徵

The character’s origin is debated:

Early bronze inscriptions show an obscure component enclosed by 辵 (“to go, movement”), later replaced by 口 (“mouth, to call”).

In some forms, 攴 (“to strike, to act”) is added, suggesting authoritative summons or enforcement.

《Shuowen Jiezi》 (설문해자) interprets it as a compound of 之 (“to go”), 各 (“each”), and 攴, describing armed men requisitioning supplies—hence the sense “to levy, to conscript.”

By the Qin script stage, 彳 (a shortened form of 辵) reappears, while the internal structure evolves into elements resembling 𡈼 (distinguished) or parts of 各.

Thus, the original sense likely combined movement + command/enforcement, giving rise to meanings like “to requisition, to summon.”

Semantic range:

- to summon, to call, to demand (e.g. taxes, service, resources);

- to conscript, to requisition (esp. in military or governmental context);

- sign, omen, indication (later extended use);

- in music: the fifth tone (chi) of the pentatonic scale.

징집 (徵集) – conscription, draft

징세 (徵稅) – tax collection

징발 (徵發) – requisition, commandeering

징후 (徵候) – symptom, sign, indication

증거 (徵據) – evidence, proof (original form uses 徵)

징수 (徵收) – collection, levy

徴