戲 (xì)

play, show, theater

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 戈 represents the meaning and 䖒 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "military troops outside the main group". The meaning later shifted to "sport" and "play".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“戲,三軍之偏也。一曰兵也。从戈,聲。”

Original meaning

military troops outside the main group

Components