或 (huò)

maybe; perhaps; might; possibly; or

Etymology

Depicts using a weapon (戈) to defend an area (囗) in a boundary (一). Based on the original meaning "area", now written as 域. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“或,邦也。从囗,从戈以守一。一,地也。域,或又从土。”

Original meaning

area

Components