如 rú — if · English

如

rú

At a glance · 如

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

「如」从女从口，金文小篆象女随人口令，会顺从之意。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「如」本义为顺从，引申如同、如果。

Structure

从女、从口，会意字，象女子应声顺从，引申如似。

At a glance

Pinyinrú

Radical女

Strokes6

UnicodeU+5982

Character type会意

Theme虚词

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English if if, supposing; as if; like, as

Français comme Comme, si. «如松之盛» : comme le pin vigoureux.

Español como Como, si. «如松之盛»: como el pino vigoroso.

العربية مثل / كما مثل، كما. «如松之盛»: كالصنوبر القوي.

Русский как Как, если. «如松之盛»: как могучий кедр.

Common words

如果rú guǒif
如同rú tónglike

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