私 (sī)

personal; private; selfish

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 禾 represents the meaning and 厶 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "grain". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“私,禾也。从禾,厶聲。北道名禾主人曰私主人。”

Original meaning

grain

Components