ruò

if

Original meaning: 

conform, obey

Pictograph of a kneeling person smoothing out their unkempt hair with their hands. Based on the original meaning "conform, obey". The (mouth) component was added later when the character became more abstract.

Components
◎ iconic component

  Iconic component

  

characterless component

Depicts unkempt hair.

𠂇 iconic component

𠂇  Iconic component

zuǒ

  

left hand

Depicts a hand smoothing out the hair.

口 meaning component

  Meaning component

kǒu

  

mouth

Evolution

若 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
若 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
若 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
若 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
若 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

ruò

if, supposing, assuming; similar; to seem; like; as; if

Most common words with 若
Freq.
Word
Meaning

like

若干

how many?

若是

if

受宠若惊

overwhelmed by favor from superior (humble expr.)

倘若

if

Component uses

Sound component in 8 characters (2 verified)