must

Original meaning: 

beard

Pictograph of a person with a bearded face. Based on the original meaning "beard", now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Components
彡 iconic component

  Iconic component

shān

  

hair

頁 iconic component

  Iconic component

xié

  

(head), page

Depicts a head.

Evolution

須 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
須 Bronze script Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze script

Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
須 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

must, have to, necessary; moment; whiskers; must; to have to; to wait

Most common words with 須
Freq.
Word
Meaning

必须

must

beard

无须

need not

胡须

beard

须知

key information

Component uses

Sound component in 1 character (1 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)