[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #Human-Body # 耳 ěr ear ## Components [[二 (èr)]] [[二 èr]] [[一 yī]] [[一 (yī)]] [[丨 (gǔn)]] ## Meaning Today, the character 耳 (ěr) is commonly used in modern Mandarin Chinese to represent the concept of "ear." It refers to the organ responsible for hearing. Additionally, 耳 can metaphorically represent objects or substances that resemble ears in shape, such as certain types of mushrooms referred to as "木耳" (mù'ěr). Furthermore, it can indicate positions on the sides, as in "耳房" (ěrfáng), referring to small rooms located on the sides of the main hall. Additionally, 耳 is used as a verb to signify hearing or listening, as in expressions like "早有耳闻" (zǎo yǒu ěr wén), meaning "to have heard of it early on." ## History The character 耳 (ěr) originally represented the concept of the ear. In oracle bone script, its shape closely resembled that of a human ear. However, as the script evolved over time, particularly into the small seal script, the resemblance to an ear diminished significantly. In ancient texts, 耳 was often used as a modal particle to indicate expressions like "而已" (éryǐ) or "黑了" (hēile). It also metaphorically represented objects positioned on either side, resembling the shape of ears. In its pictographic form, both oracle bone and bronze script versions depicted a shape resembling a human ear. However, in small seal script, the character's strokes became more simplified. In clerical script and subsequently in regular script, it evolved into its current form. Due to the ears being located on the sides of the head, 耳 can also denote things positioned on the sides. For example, "耳房" (ěrfáng) refers to small rooms located on the sides of the main hall. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[耳 ěr - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[耳 ěr - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[耳 ěr - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[耳 ěr - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[耳 ěr - reg.svg]]