Dong Chinese dictionary

gěn, gèn

blunt

look backwards

Depicts a person looking backwards. Based on the original meaning "look backwards". The modern meaning is a phonetic loan.

Components

目 Iconic component

mù

eye

Depicts an eye.

Due to historical stylistic changes, this component is less similar to 目 than it was in ancient scripts.

人 Iconic component

rén

person

Horizontally flipped version of 人, depicts a person looking backwards.

Due to historical stylistic changes, this component is less similar to 人 than it was in ancient scripts.

Evolution

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

gěn

seventh of eight diagrams; blunt; tough; chewy

gèn

one of the Eight Trigrams 八卦[bāguà], symbolizing mountain; ☶; ancient Chinese compass point: 45° (northeast)

Component uses

Meaning component in 4 characters (1 verified)

Sound component in 19 characters (9 verified)

Sources

季旭昇《說文新證》p.648