券

The Chinese character 券 (quàn) has a rich history and etymology. It is composed of two parts: the radical 采 (cǎi) on the left, which represents "to pick" or "to gather," and the phonetic component 券 (quàn), which represents the sound. The original meaning of 券 was "a tally or token," which was used as a form of currency in ancient China. It was made of bamboo or wood and was split into two halves, with each half being held by a different party as a proof of debt or ownership. Over time, the meaning of 券 expanded to include other types of documents that served as proof or authorization, such as tickets, certificates, and bonds. In modern Chinese, 券 is commonly used in the sense of "ticket" or "coupon."