世 (Shì)

surname Shi

Etymology

Depicts three leaves on branches of a tree. Remnant from the top part of 枼. Based on the original meaning "leaf", now written as 葉. The meaning later shifted to "generation", since leaves pile up in hundreds much like a generation.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“世,三十年為一世,从卉而曳長之,亦取其聲也。”

Original meaning

leaf