薪

A phono-semantic compound:

艸 — grass, plants (semantic)

新 — new (phonetic)

The original meaning of 薪 is wood gathered from vegetation for burning, especially branches or brushwood rather than large timber. It specifically refers to processed or collected fuel, not just trees in the wild.

In classical society firewood (薪) was an essential daily resource. Providing 薪 implied support for livelihood.

Thus, 薪 developed the abstract meaning of:

- means of living

- official pay or wages

This semantic shift parallels how “bread” or “living” developed metaphorical meanings in other languages.

薪材 (신재) — firewood (literary / technical)

연봉 (年俸) — preferred modern term for salary

봉급 (俸給) — salary (traditional)

薪 symbolizes basic sustenance. Represents humble labor and material necessity.

In Buddhism, often paired with fire to express impermanence.

Related characters:

柴 — firewood; brushwood

炭 — charcoal

火 — fire

燃 — to burn

給 — to supply; wages

俸 — official salary

Classical usage:

薪 commonly appears in expressions relating to:

- daily sustenance

- humble labor

- material support

Well-known classical phrase:

「薪盡火傳」

“The fire continues to burn even after the fuel is gone.”

This Buddhist-influenced metaphor expresses:

- continuity beyond physical matter

- transmission of teaching or spirit

In Buddhist literature, 薪 often symbolizes:

- material attachment

- fuel that sustains the fire of desire