Dong Chinese dictionary

biàn

distinguish

Depicts a hand (又) feeling for something in the sand (少).

Components

又 Iconic component

yòu

(hand), again

Depicts a hand.

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

少 Iconic component

shǎo, shào

few

Used here to depict grains of sand.

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

Evolution

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

biàn

distinguish; KangXi radical 165; old variant of 辨[biàn]

Component uses

Meaning component in 4 characters (3 verified)

Sound component in 2 characters (2 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)

Sources

季旭昇《說文新證》p.88-89

黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》p.2801