厂

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 厂 (chǎng) is a pictograph that originally depicted a cliff or a high wall. It is composed of two parts: the upper part 阜 (fù), which means "mound" or "hill", and the lower part 乙 (yǐ), which represents a "cliff" or a "precipice". Together, they create the image of a tall, steep cliff.Over time, the meaning of 厂 expanded to include other concepts related to cliffs and walls. It can refer to a factory, a workshop, or a place where goods are produced. It can also be used to describe a system or an organization, such as a government agency or a business enterprise.In modern Chinese, 厂 is commonly used as a suffix to form nouns that refer to places or organizations. For example, the word 工厂 (gōngchǎng) means "factory", while the word 学校 (xuéxiào) means "school".The character 厂 is also used in some Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 一厂二主 (yī chǎng èr zhǔ) means "two masters in one factory", which refers to a situation where there are two people in charge of the same thing, often leading to conflict.In conclusion, the Chinese character 厂 has a rich history and a wide range of meanings. It is a versatile character that can be used in many different contexts.