[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Wealth # 财 cái wealth; resources ## Components [[贝 bèi]] [[贝 (bèi)]] [[才 cái]] ## Meaning Nowadays, the character 财 (cái) means "wealth," "money," or "resources." It is commonly used in contexts related to finance, economics, and possessions. The character can also imply the idea of financial gain or prosperity. ## History The character 财 (cái) is a phono-semantic compound. The component "贝" (bèi) represents the meaning, as shells were historically used as currency. The phonetic component "才" (cái) suggests talent or usefulness, indicating that money and resources are valuable. The character is simplified in its form. Its original meaning refers to wealth or property. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[财 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[财 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[财 reg.svg]]