佩

Traditionally explained as a compound-ideograph:

亻 (“person”) — semantic

凡 (or its ancient form) — phonetic element

巾 (“cloth”) — associated with things hung or suspended

Early forms depict an ornament or token hanging from the waist of a person, leading to meanings like “to wear” and “to adorn oneself.”

The semantic expansion “to wear” → “to hold in esteem” is classical and well-attested.

패용 (佩用) — to wear / to carry on one’s belt

패물 (佩物) — ornament worn at the waist; accessory

패옥 (佩玉) — jade pendant worn at the belt

패영 (佩纓) — tassels or pendants worn on clothing

佩 originally referred specifically to ritual pendants such as jade pieces (玉佩) worn by scholars or nobles.

Because ritual pendants represented a person’s dignity and virtue, the meaning gradually extended to “to admire/respect someone’s character.”

Classical citations:

《詩經·邶風》 (The Book of Songs)

「佩玉之儀。」

“The dignity of one who wears jade pendants.”

《論語·子張》 (The Analects)

「士不可以不弘毅，任重而道遠。死而後已，不亦遠乎？故君子居易以俟命，小人行險以徼幸。」

"A gentleman must be both broad-minded and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his journey long. To persevere until death—is that not the ultimate distance? Therefore, the noble man dwells in ease while awaiting his destiny, while the petty man ventures into peril in pursuit of fortune."

Not containing 佩 directly, but 佩 is used in commentaries describing wearing ritual pendants.

《後漢書》 (Book of the Later Han Dynasty)

「佩劍以從。」

“He followed, wearing a sword at his waist.”

《廣雅》 (Guangya)

「佩，帶也。」

“‘佩’ means ‘a belt ornament; something fastened to the waist.’”