[[Characters]]
#Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Literature-and-Education
# 认 rèn
to recognize; to admit
## Components
[[讠 (yān)]]
[[人 rén]]
[[人 (rén)]]
## Meaning
Nowadays, the character 认 (rèn) primarily means "to recognize," "to admit," or "to acknowledge." It is used in various contexts related to identifying or acknowledging something or someone.
## History
The character 认 (rèn) is a phono-semantic compound. It includes the radical 言 (讠), indicating its relation to speech, and the phonetic component 忍 (rěn). In its simplified form, it comprises 立 and 人 (rén) as the phonetic component, symbolizing the use of speech to distinguish and recognize people. The original meaning is "to know" or "to identify."
## Evolution
### Oracular Script
?
### Bronze Script
?
### Seal Script
?
### Clerical Script
![[认 cle.svg]]
### Regular Script
![[认 reg.svg]]