臧 (Zāng)

surname Zang

Etymology

Depicts a weapon (戈) slashing an eye (臣). In ancient China, captured prisoners were blinded with weapons making them into slaves. 爿 was later added as a sound component. Based on the original meaning, "slave; servant". The current meaning "good" is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“臧,善也。从臣,戕聲。,籀文。”

Original meaning

slave; servant

Components