士

In ancient China, 士 originally meant a man holding power.

Initially, it strongly signified a military commander skilled in martial arts.

Over time, the meaning shifted to indicate an educated intellectual or scholar excelling in learning and the arts.

As an official rank, 士 began to decline in status starting from the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BCE).

By the Western Han dynasty, it referred to a position assisting higher officials (大夫).

It was sometimes used metaphorically to mean a “political hopeful” or “young reformist.”

Confucius explained 士 as “adding one to ten” (推十合一爲士), symbolizing the virtue of the gentleman.

Shuowen Jiezi described it as a compound ideogram made from 一 (one) and 十 (ten), representing counting from one to ten.

However, in oracle bone script, 士 was originally a pictograph of a weapon (axe), symbolizing a soldier going into battle carrying arms.

The character 士 is also well known for causing confusion because the syllable "사" appears in many occupational titles represented by different characters:

士 (scholar/gentleman): lawyer (辯護士), accountant (會計士), warrior (武士)

事 (affair/work): judge (判事), prosecutor (檢事), steward (執事)

師 (teacher/master): teacher (敎師), doctor (醫師), nurse (看護師)