磁

Phono-semantic compound:

石 (shí, “stone”) — semantic element, denoting a mineral or rock.

兹 (zī, “abundant, flourishing”) — phonetic element, providing the sound cí and suggesting a natural property of attraction or vitality.

Originally, 磁 described a type of stone with an active or “living” quality — a concept that ancient scholars associated with its ability to attract metal, hence the meaning “magnetic stone.”

磁石 (자석) — magnet

磁力 (자력) — magnetic force

磁場 (자장) — magnetic field

磁鐵 (자철) — magnetic iron ore

磁器 (자기) — porcelain ware (historically linked with 瓷器)

The magnetic properties of lodestone (磁石) were documented as early as the Han dynasty.

By the Song dynasty, the term 磁石 was applied to the south-pointing compass (指南針), revolutionizing navigation and geography.

Later, during the Tang–Song period, 磁 gained a second sense — “porcelain”, owing to the high-quality ceramics produced in Cizhou kilns (磁州窯) in Hebei province.

The excellence of Cizhou ware made the character 磁 synonymous with fine ceramics; this usage influenced the word 磁器 (자기) — “porcelain ware” — still used in Korean today.

Cultural note:

In traditional Chinese cosmology, magnetism (磁) symbolized the natural attraction between yin and yang, echoing cosmic harmony.

Thus, 磁力 was seen not merely as a physical phenomenon but as a reflection of natural affinity and balance — a metaphor for attraction, connection, and influence.

Porcelain (磁器), on the other hand, became an emblem of refinement, craftsmanship, and cultural sophistication, representing both practical utility and aesthetic purity in East Asian art.