同

In oracle bone script, depicted as 凡 (all, every) over 口 (mouth) — originally showing many voices (凡) gathered into one mouth (口), symbolizing unison or sameness.

Later stabilized as 同, a compound graph meaning “to be alike, to share, to be together.”

Semantic range:

- same, identical (같다);

- together, with (함께, 같이);

- group, collective, class (무리);

- by extension, agreement or concord.

同一 (동일) — same, identical

同心 (동심) — of one heart, united

同志 (동지) — comrade, like-minded person

同行 (동행) — to go together, companion

同感 (동감) — same feeling, sympathy

共同 (공동) — joint, mutual, shared

同族 (동족) — same clan or race

In Confucian texts, 同 is often contrasted with 和 (harmony):

“君子和而不同，小人同而不和” — “The noble person seeks harmony but not sameness, the petty person seeks sameness but not harmony.”

Here, 同 warns against mere conformity, while 和 represents higher, balanced unity.

Thus, 同 plays a key role in classical discussions of individuality vs. conformity, and harmony vs. uniformity.

仝 (ancient form, also basis for Japanese 々);

衕 (originally “alley,” simplified as 同).