完 (wán)

to finish; to be over; whole; complete; entire

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 元 represents the sound. The 宀 component is used because putting on a roof completes the process of constructing a building.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“完,全也。从宀,元聲。古文以為寬字。”

Components