[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Abstract-Concepts \ #Time-and-Space # 早 zǎo early; morning ## Components [[日 (rì)]] [[日 rì]] [[十 shí]] [[十 (shí)]] ## Meaning Today, the character 早 (zǎo) primarily signifies "morning" in modern Chinese. It refers to the early hours of the day before noon. Additionally, it can be used as an adverb to indicate something happening early or in advance, and as an adjective to describe something occurring in one's early life or youth. ## History The character 早 (zǎo) is a compound ideogram. In seal script, it combines the sun above and the character 甲 (jiǎ) below, which resembles a crack in a seed shell. This composition symbolizes the sun breaking through the darkness, representing the concept of morning. Its original meaning is "morning." Originally, "早" meant morning and was a compound ideogram. In seal script, it featured the sun above and 甲 below, with the latter resembling the character "十," resembling the crack in a seed shell. This indicates the breaking of dawn, when the sun breaks through the darkness to signify morning. Later, "早" extended its meaning to serve as an adverb, indicating early time, contrasting with "晚" (wǎn) meaning "late," as seen in phrases like "早退" (zǎo tuì) meaning "leave early" and "早逝" (zǎo shì) meaning "pass away early." As an adjective, it means "in the early part of one's life" or "in one's youth," as in "他早年当过兵" (tā zǎo nián dāngguò bīng) meaning "he served as a soldier in his early years." ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[早seal.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[早cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[早reg.svg]]