示

示 has variant forms when used as a component in other characters, either in the "foot" (발) position or the "side" (변) position:

1. When 示 appears in the foot (발) position, it is usually written as 示 in full form.

2. When it appears in the side (변) position, it often changes to the variant form 礻 (also written as ⺬).

Both forms, 礻 and ⺬, have been used interchangeably since ancient times.

In modern usage:

• In China and Japan, ⺬ is more commonly used.

• In Korea, 礻 is more commonly used.

However, this difference is not regarded as incorrect by any of the countries, and neither is treated as a mistake. In fact, Korean official naming standards explicitly allow the interchangeable use of 礻 and ⺬ even if one is not separately listed in the official hanja tables.

In practice in Korea both variants 礻 and ⺬ usually render as ⺬.

Many input systems prioritize showing characters with the 礻 radical first.

Authoritative Korean dictionaries like the Standard Korean Language Dictionary list characters under the 礻 radical form.

Even historical plaques like those on Gyeongbokgung’s Heungnyemun and Sungnyemun gates show the character 禮 in the 礻 form.

Examples of characters using 示 as a foot radical include:

禦 (to defend)

禁 (to prohibit)

票 (ticket)

祭 (ritual/sacrifice)

Examples of characters using the 礻 side radical include:

祿 (to grant)

神 (spirit)

禮 (rite)

社 (shrine)