覆

A phonetic–semantic compound consists of:

襾 (아, “to cover”) — semantic component

復 (복, “to return; again”) — phonetic component

The original sense is “to cover something over”, from which the meanings “to overturn” (covering from above causes inversion) and “to repeat” (to return again) naturally developed.

Semantic development:

- to place a covering over something

- to overturn or cause collapse

- to return again; repetition

- metaphorical extensions (political ruin, military defeat, restoration)

覆蓋 (복개) — covering; enclosure

覆蓋天 (복개천) — covered stream

顛覆 (전복) — overthrow; subversion

覆沒 (복몰) — to sink; to be submerged

反覆 (반복) — repetition

覆轍 (복철) — repeated failure (lit. “overturned cart tracks”)

覆命 (복명) — to report back; re-report

Semantic contrast:

覆 — cover; overturn; repeat

蓋 — cover; lid

翻 — flip; turn over

復 — return; again

被 — be covered; passive

覆 uniquely combines physical covering, destructive reversal, and temporal repetition.

Notes on Korean readings:

Korean sources from the 16th century onward consistently distinguish:

부 — “to cover”

복 — all other meanings

In modern Korean, however, 복 is used almost exclusively.

A few words preserve older or mixed readings, such as:

복개 (覆蓋) — covering

복개천 — covered stream

피복 (被覆) — covering (where a colloquial reading is accepted)

Because of this shift, 覆 is often taught today simply as “덮을 복.”

Classical citations:

《後漢書》 (Book of the Later Han Dynasty)

「覆水難收。」

“Spilled water cannot be gathered again.”

Something once done cannot be undone.

《左傳》 (Zuo Zhuan)

「國將顛覆。」

“The state is about to be overthrown.”

《論語》 (The Analects)

「反覆其辭。」

“He repeats his words again and again.”