命 (mìng)

life; fate; order or command; to assign a name, title etc

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound and meaning. Based on the original meaning "command". The meaning later shifted to "fate" and "life".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“命,使也。从口,从令。”

Original meaning

command

Components