夬 (guài)

decisive

Etymology

Depicts a hand (又) wearing a thumb ring. Thumb rings are typically used for archery to protect the archer's thumb when pulling back on the bowstring. Based on the original meaning "thumb ring". The meaning later shifted to "parted".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“夬,分決也。从又;,象決形。”

Original meaning

thumb ring

Components