盡

An ideographic–semantic compound depicting the idea of total consumption or depletion.

Early forms show a container (皿) with contents completely emptied.

The upper component originally represented things being swept or removed, leaving nothing behind.

Together, the character conveys the notion of nothing remaining.

Thus, the original meaning is “to empty completely”, from which abstract meanings such as exhaust, end, and utmost naturally developed.

Semantic development:

- concrete (to empty a container)

- extended (to use up resources)

- abstract (to the limit; completely)

- moral / literary (to fulfill one’s duty fully)

In Korean, 盡 strongly conveys completeness and total dedication, especially in ethical or emotional contexts.

진력 (盡力) — to make every effort

진심 (盡心) — wholehearted devotion

진언 (盡言) — to speak fully, to say everything

盡 emphasizes completeness, not merely termination. It often implies intentional effort, not passive ending.

In ethical contexts, it conveys absolute sincerity and devotion.

Related characters:

終 — to end

竭 — to exhaust (especially strength or resources)

窮 — to be exhausted; destitute

畢 — to finish completely

全 — whole; complete

盡 is extremely common in classical texts, often expressing:

- totality (completeness)

- moral commitment

- finality or exhaustion

It frequently appears in paired constructions such as:

盡力 — to exert all one’s strength

盡忠 — to give one’s utmost loyalty

Classical citations:

《論語·子罕》 (The Analects, Zihan)

「盡己之謂忠」

“To give one’s whole self is called loyalty.”

《孟子》 (Mencius)

「盡其心者，知其性也」

“He who exhausts his mind knows his nature.”

These passages show 盡 as moral totality, not merely physical exhaustion.