書

Phono-semantic compound:

聿 (brush, writing tool) – semantic, indicating the act of writing.

者 (person) – phonetic element.

Character evolution:

Not found in oracle bone script.

In bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen), appears as 聿 (brush) above 者 (person), symbolizing “a person using a brush.”

In seal script (篆書 zhuànshū) this form was preserved.

In clerical script (隸書 lìshū), the lower 者 was simplified to 曰, giving the modern form 書.

Thus, the character conveys the act of inscribing with a brush, extending to “writing” and “book.”

書經 (서경) – the Book of Documents (Confucian classic)

書信 (서신) – letter, written correspondence

書籍 (서적) – books, publications

書體 (서체) – calligraphic style

讀書 (독서) – reading books

書 can serve as a generic term for “script” or “calligraphy.”

In classical contexts, 書 could specifically refer to the Shujing (書經), one of the Five Classics.