物 wù — thing · English

物

wù

thing

At a glance · 物

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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

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「物」从牛勿声，小篆从牛勿声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「物」本义为杂色牛，引申万物、事物、物类。

Structure

从牛、勿声，形声字，牛表义类（古以牛为物之代表），勿表音。

At a glance

Pinyinwù

Radical牜

Strokes8

UnicodeU+7269

Character type形声

Theme其他

Six languages, one character

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

English thing thing, substance, creature

Français chose / objet Chose, objet. «逐物意移» : les choses extérieures.

Español cosa / objeto Cosa, objeto. «逐物意移»: las cosas externas.

العربية شيء / شيء شيء، موضوع. «逐物意移»: الأشياء الخارجية.

Русский вещь / объект Вещь, объект. «逐物意移»: внешние вещи.

Common words

物品wù pǐnarticle
动物dòng wùanimal

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