社会主义 (shè huì zhǔ yì)

Character breakdown

• 社 (shè) · 7 strokes

  Originally depicted a god (礻) of the soil (土). The meaning later shifted to "shrine", "congregation", and "society".

• 会 (huì) · 6 strokes

  Simplified form of 會. Phonosemantic compound. 合 represents the meaning and 𡆧 represents the sound.

• 主 (zhǔ) · 5 strokes

  Pictograph of a memorial tablet used for spiritual rituals, similar to 示.

• 义 (Yì) · 3 strokes

  Adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 義. Phonosemantic compound. 羊 represents the meaning and 我 represents the sound. In ancient China sheep (羊) were associated with goodness and…