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脚jiǎo

Character evolution

脚

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Simplified · Today

Shuowen

脚 (jiǎo) originally appeared in oracle bone script as a compound of a foot pictogram (the semantic element) and a phonetic element that later became the component 卻; the left side later transformed into the flesh radical 月, indicating the bodily part, while the right side retained its phonetic value, together signifying the lower limb. The character thus denotes the foot or leg, and by extension the base or bottom of objects. Its structure reflects the ancient semantic‑phonetic composition, with the foot pictogram evolving into the flesh radical and the phonetic component providing the sound.

Pinyin

jiǎo· HSK 2