容

Phono-semantic compound:

宀 (면) – semantic component, representing a house/roof, implying “to hold something inside.”

公 (공) – phonetic component.

Over time, the 公 component transformed in shape and now visually resembles 谷 (곡) in the modern form (宀 + 谷).

The original sense is “a space under a roof that can receive or hold things”, from which developed the meanings to contain and to accept. The notion of what is presented or held outwardly then extended to appearance or facial expression.

Semantic development:

- physical containment — to hold; capacity

- acceptance — to allow; tolerate

- outward form — appearance; facial expression

- abstract ease — manageable; easy (容易)

容 is highly productive across physical, social, and abstract contexts. Also it frequently appears in names and generational markers (항렬).

Common compounds:

용모 (容貌) — appearance; looks

용적 (容積) — volume; capacity

내용 (內容) — contents

수용 (受容) — acceptance; reception

포용 (包容) — embrace; tolerance

관용 (寬容) — tolerance; leniency

용이 (容易) — easy (lit. “easy to contain/handle”)

용량 (容量) — capacity

Set phrases:

얼굴에 용색이 없다 (容色) — one’s expression shows distress

容 — an essential character used widely in names, literature, and compound words across East Asian languages.

In Chinese character classification, 容 is sometimes listed under the “穴” radical group (relating to spaces and cavities).

In Korean naming tradition, 容 is a common generational name character.

Unlike 入 (to enter) or 納 (to receive), 容 emphasizes space and capacity—both literal and psychological.

Related characters (containment & appearance):

納 — receive; accept

含 — contain; include

包 — wrap; embrace

貌 — appearance

形 — form; shape

Among these, 容 bridges capacity and appearance—what is held within and what is shown without.