易 (Yì)

Etymology

Upside-down version of 益, depicting food or drink being poured from a container (皿). Based on the original meaning "to bestow, give", now written as 賜. The meaning later shifted to "exchange", "change", and "easy".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“易，蜥易，蝘蜓，守宮也。象形。《秘書》說，日月為易，象陰陽也。一曰从勿。”

Original meaning

to bestow, give

Components

• 皿 (iconic) — Depicts a vessel for holding food or drink.
• ◎ (iconic) — Depicts food or drink being poured from a container.