八 (bā)

Etymology

Pictograph of two lines facing away from each other. The current meaning "eight" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "separate" is now written as 別.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“八，別也。象分別相背之形。”

Original meaning

separate

Example sentences

1. 她八岁。 — She is eight.
2. 我十八岁。 — I am eighteen years old.
3. 她八岁大。 — She is eight.
4. 八点多了。 — It's past eight.
5. 他胡说八道。 — He is talking nonsense.

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