zāng

good

Original meaning: 

slave; servant

Depicts a weapon () slashing an eye (). In ancient China, captured prisoners were blinded with weapons making them into slaves. was later added as a sound component. Based on the original meaning, "slave; servant". The current meaning "good" is a phonetic loan.

Components
臣 iconic component

  Iconic component

chén

  

minister

Depicts an eye.

戈 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

spear

爿 sound component

  Sound component

pánqiáng

  

piece of wood

Evolution

臧 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
臧 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
臧 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
臧 Clerical script Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Clerical script

Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
臧 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

zāng

good, right, generous; command; good; right

 

Zāng

surname Zang

Most common words with 臧
Freq.
Word
Meaning

good

臧克家

Zang Kejia (1905-2004), Chinese poet

Component uses

Sound component in 2 characters (1 verified)