[UKH-時] | ultimateKOREAN

時

때

시

부수: 日
획수: 10획

時 has the meanings season, time, hour and current.

時 = 日 + 寺

X = semantic + phonetic

• 日 depicts the sun and represents the meanings ‘the four seasons’, ‘day’ and ‘period of time’.
• 寺 is an abbreviation of 持 (meaning ‘to grasp’) and is used for its sound.

Since 寺 is an abbreviation, it has no relevance to temple (사|寺|절).

This character is difficult to analyse because scholars debate over the components and their interpretations.

Evolution:
時 = the four seasons ➔ time ➔ hour
時 = the four seasons ➔ time ➔ current

寺 = 士 + 寸

• 士 depicts an axe-like tool and has the meaning ‘foot soldier’ (soldiers are of low noble rank).
• 寸 depicts ‘a hand’ with a mark below the wrist where the pulse is taken. This represents actions done with the hand. From this comes the meaning ‘to grasp’.

Some scholars have suggested that 寺 contains 之 (to go) or 止 (stop) and that these refer to the movement of the sun — from which comes ‘time’.

Mnemonic

Imagine a monk wielding 寸 an axe 士 with the character 日 on a chopping block. His job is to split the day into sections and create a daily schedule for the temple 寺.

Vocabulary

season
時節	시절	season
time
時期	시기	time; season; period
時代	시대	era; period
時計	시계	clock
時點	시점	point in time
暫時	잠시	for a moment
同時	동시	at the same time
卽時	즉시	instantly
時空	시공	space-time
時勢	시세	market price
石器時代	석기 시대	the stone Age
時機	시기	a chance; opportunity
hour
時間	시간	time; an hour
時速	시속	speed per hour
校時	교시	class period (school)
current
時事	시사	current affairs

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