番

Phono-semantic compound:

釆 (분별할 변, “to distinguish, to separate grain”) — semantic, related to counting or sorting.

田 (밭 전, “field”) — phonetic, providing the sound 번.

Originally depicted measured fields of grain, representing the concept of repetition and counting, which developed into the meaning “turn, order, round.”

차례(番) — turn, order, instance (e.g. 이번, 다음번)

번수(番數) — frequency, number of times

일번(一番) — number one, the first, best

매번(每番) — every time, each occasion

외번(外番) — foreign country, used in historical contexts to refer to non-Han states

In classical Chinese, 番 was used to refer to foreign tribes or lands bordering China, often translated as “barbarian states” in older literature (e.g., 西番 “Western Tribes”).

In Japanese, 番 is used extensively to denote order or numbering: 一番 (“first, best”), 番号 (“number”), 番組 (“TV program”).

In modern Mandarin, 番 (fān) retains meanings like “turn,” “episode,” or “foreign” (as in 番茄 fānqié, “tomato,” literally “foreign eggplant”).

The variant form 畨, written with 米 (“rice”) instead of 釆, appears in early texts — a reflection of its agrarian counting origins.