[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #Life # 跛 bǒ limping; to have a limp ## Components [[足 zú]] [[足 (zù)]] [[皮 (pí)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "跛" (bǒ) primarily means: 1. **Limping**: Refers to walking with a limp or an unsteady gait due to a leg or foot ailment. 2. **To Have a Limp**: Describes someone who has difficulty walking steadily due to a leg or foot problem. 3. **Lame**: Can be used to describe a person or animal with a physical disability affecting their ability to walk normally. Overall, "跛" continues to denote the act of walking with a limp or having an unsteady gait due to a leg or foot ailment. ## History The character "跛" (bǒ) is a compound ideogram. The radical "足" represents the foot, while the phonetic component "波" (bo) suggests unevenness or irregularity, indicating that someone walking with a limp has an unsteady gait. Originally, "跛" meant to walk with a limp, indicating an unsteady or irregular gait due to a leg or foot ailment. In ancient texts like the "Shuowen Jiezi," it is described as walking improperly or irregularly. In the "Book of Changes," there's a passage mentioning someone being able to see but unable to walk steadily. In etiquette texts like the "Li Ji," it advises against standing unsteadily. In the "Huainanzi," it refers to a situation specifically because of someone's limp. "跛" typically refers to someone with a leg or foot ailment that causes them to walk unsteadily or with a limp. In colloquial language, it is synonymous with "瘸" (qué), meaning an imbalance or irregularity in walking due to a leg or foot ailment. In summary, "跛" denotes walking with a limp or unsteadily due to a leg or foot ailment, often colloquially referred to as being "瘸." ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[跛 bǒ - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[跛 bǒ - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[跛 bǒ - reg.svg]]