醫 (yī)

to cure, to heal, to treat; doctor; medicine

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 酉 represents the meaning and 殹 represents the sound. The 酉 component is a pictograph of a container for wine, which is sometimes used for medicinal purposes.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“醫,治病工也。殹,惡姿也,醫之性然。得酒而使。从酉。王育說。一曰殹,病聲。酒,所以治病也。《周禮》有醫酒。古者巫彭初作醫。”

Components