略 (luè)

brief; sketchy; outline; summary; to omit; (bound form before a single

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 田 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "demarcate land boundaries". The meaning later shifted to "outline" and "approximately".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“略,經略土地也。从田,各聲。”

Original meaning

demarcate land boundaries

Components