死 (sǐ)

to die; impassable; uncrossable; inflexible; rigid; extremely; damned

Etymology

Depicts using a digging tool (歹) to bury a person (人). Based on the original meaning "to bury a person". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "die".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“死,澌也,人所離也。从歺,从人。,古文死如此。”

Original meaning

to bury a person

Components