巨

Pictograph depicts a large square tool or carpenter’s instrument, originally representing a rectangular frame or large construction device.

The shape shows a wide, open form, suggesting breadth and magnitude.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「巨，鉅也。象器之形。」

“巨 means large (鉅); it depicts the form of a great tool.”

Originally, 巨 referred to a large square carpenter’s tool, and from that image the sense of “great in size” arose.

When the specific meaning “square measure” needed to be distinguished, the derivative character 矩 (모날 구, carpenter’s square) was created, preserving the original technical sense.

巨大 (거대) — great; immense

巨人 (거인) — giant; great person

巨富 (거부) — wealthy person; magnate

巨木 (거목) — giant tree; great figure (metaphorical)

巨額 (거액) — huge amount (of money)

巨勢 (거세) — great force; overwhelming power

巨輪 (거륜) — massive wheel; large-scale enterprise (figurative)

巨匠 (거장) — master; great artisan

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 361):

「巨，大也。從工象器形。」

“巨 means great; derived from 工, symbolizing the shape of a tool.”

It later evolved to signify great power, greatness of scale, and human magnitude — both physical and moral.

Book of Han (漢書 · 食貨志):

「積巨萬金而不以為足。」

“He amassed immense wealth and yet was not satisfied.” — uses 巨 metaphorically for “vast.”

Zhuangzi (莊子 · 天下篇):

「巨海之大，百川灌之。」

“The vastness of the great sea — a hundred rivers pour into it.” — 巨 as cosmic immensity.

Mencius (孟子 · 滕文公下):

「巨人之行，不失其本。」

“The conduct of a great man never departs from his root.” — figurative sense of moral greatness.

From the tool that measured size, 巨 became the very measure of greatness itself — the mark of what is grand, vast, and beyond the ordinary.