省
shěng
province; examine
At a glance · 省

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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.

省 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 省 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 省 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 省 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 省 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 省 Regular script
    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.

甲骨文、金文从目从生,会意目视、察究。本指视察、反省;后亦指行政区划(省)。隶楷作「省」。

What the sketch shows

省 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「省」本指细看、自省,元后指行省、省份。

Structure

会意字,从目从生,象目视而察之形。

At a glance

Pinyinshěng
Radical目
Strokes9
UnicodeU+7701
Character type会意
Theme政事

Six languages, one character

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English province; examine A province; to inspect, reflect.
Français province; examiner Une province; inspecter, réfléchir.
Español provincia; examinar Una provincia; inspeccionar, reflexionar.
العربية مقاطعة؛ يتفقّد مقاطعة أو يتفقّد ويتأمل.
Русский провинция; осматривать Провинция; осматривать, анализировать.

Common words

  • 省shěngreflect
  • 省份shěng fènprovince