倣

The core sense is deliberate imitation — modeling oneself or one’s work after something else.

Phono-semantic compound:

人 (사람 인) — semantic element, connected to human action and behavior.

放 (놓을 방) — phonetic element, provides the sound 방

Thus 倣 originally conveyed “to act (人) in the manner of 放”, to imitate, to follow, to model after.

The meaning has remained stable since early usage.

In Korean, 倣(방) is not common independently; it appears almost exclusively in compounds.

Common Sino-Korean compounds:

模倣 (모방) — 본뜨다, 모방하다; imitation

倣效 (방효) — 본받아 따르다; follow an example (rare)

倣作 (방작) — 모방하여 제작함; imitative work (literary/academic)

倣古 (방고) — 옛것을 본떠 만들다; archaizing imitation (rare)

More theoretical/literary forms:

倣某 (방모) — 어떤 것을 본받음; following an example

倣從 (방종) — 다른 행동을 본받아 따름; imitating and adopting another's actions (rare classical usage)

Core Korean usage:

- overwhelmingly 模倣 (모방) in modern vocabulary.

Classical citations:

《後漢書·蔡邕傳》 (Book of the Later Han)

「模倣古制。」

“He imitated the ancient system” — Clear use of 倣 in “model after, copy.”

《文選·班固〈西都賦〉》 (Wenxuan – Ban Gu)

「模倣前王之制。」

“Modeled after the institutions of the former kings” — Here 倣 emphasizes formal imitation of institutions.

《世說新語·文學》 (Shishuo Xinyu)

「模倣其辭。」

“He imitated his wording.”

Widely cited example showing literary imitation.

Distinction from 仿 and 彷:

仿 — simplified form; also used in the meaning “to imitate; to resemble.”

彷 — often part of 彷徨 (방황); meaning “to wander,” not related to imitation.