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负fù

Character evolution

负

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Simplified · Today

Shuowen

负, in its oracle‑bone form, depicts a human figure (亻) with a shell (貝) perched on its back, literally showing a person carrying a load. The image conveys the core idea of bearing or supporting a weight, which in early usage meant to carry, to hold, and later to be indebted or obligated. When the script was standardized, the figure was simplified to the modern shape 负, preserving the person‑above‑shell composition to reflect the original notion of bearing a burden, which then extended to the modern senses of “negative” and “to owe.”

Pinyin

fù· HSK 2