dài

subservient

Original meaning: 

catch from behind

Depicts a hand () grabbing a tail () from behind. Based on the original meaning "catch from behind", now written as . Also used as the simplified form of .

Components
又 iconic component

  Iconic component

yòu

  

(hand), again

尾 iconic component

  Iconic component

wěi

  

tail

Derives from an ancient and simpler form of (tail)

Evolution

隶 Bronze script Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze script

Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
隶 Seal script Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal script

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
隶 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
隶 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

dài

to catch from behind

() 

be subservient to; servant; attached to; scribe

() 

variant of |[lì]

Most common words with 隶
Freq.
Word
Meaning

奴隶

slave

隶属

to be attached to

奴隶制

slavery

奴隶主

slave owner

scribe

Component uses

Meaning component in 2 characters (2 verified)

Sound component in 3 characters (1 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)