每 (měi)

each; every

Etymology

Pictograph of a woman (母) with a hairpin in her hair. In ancient China, women of marriageable age wore a hairpin. Based on the original meaning "young woman of marriageable age". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“,艸盛上出也。从屮,母聲。”

Original meaning

young woman of marriageable age

Components