新

Phono-semantic compound:

斤 (axe) – semantic element, associated with cutting wood or splitting.

辛 (bitter, pungent) – phonetic element, providing the sound.

In oracle bone script, 辛 + 斤 originally referred to “firewood” or “freshly cut wood.”

By extension, “new, fresh” developed through semantic borrowing.

Later, to clarify the meaning “firewood,” the character 薪 (with 艹 radical) was created, while 新 took on the meaning “new.”

Semantic range:

- new, fresh (objects, experiences, times);

- recent, modern, up-to-date;

- to renew, to begin anew;

- figurative: novel, innovative.

新聞 (신문) – newspaper, news

新鮮 (신선) – fresh

革新 (혁신) – reform, innovation

新年 (신년) – New Year

新婚 (신혼) – newlywed

In early forms, 辛 was closer to 亲 in shape, leading to later orthographic variation.

The idea of “newness” often appears in compounds linked to time, social change, or innovation.

In contrast, 薪 (firewood) preserved the original meaning “wood for fuel.”

In mainland China, the bottom left component is written 朩, giving 新.

In Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, the bottom left component is written 𣎳, giving 新.

In Japan and Korea, the bottom left component is written 木, giving 新.

薪 (firewood)