離 (lí)

rare beast; strange; elegant

Etymology

Depicts a bird (隹) being caught in a bird trap (罕). Based on the original meaning "catch a bird". The meaning later shifted to "reject", "separate", and "leave".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“離,離黃,倉庚也。鳴則蠶生。从隹,离聲。”

Original meaning

catch a bird

Components