亡 (wáng)

to die; to lose; to be gone; to flee; deceased

Etymology

Depicts the tip of a knife blade (刀). Similar in origin to 方. Based on the original meaning "tip of a blade", now written as 芒. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“亡,逃也。从入,从。”

Original meaning

tip of a blade

Components