<p>Pronoucing them in Cantonese will make sense to you.</p>

<p><a href="https://ykyi.net/dict/index.php?char=%E9%80%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">透</a>，tau3<br>
<a href="https://ykyi.net/dict/index.php?char=%E7%A7%80" rel="nofollow noreferrer">秀</a>，sau3</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-19T00:38:14.117Z
Yes, seems that Cantonese keeps lots of ancient Chinese words(both in pronouciation and meaning)
Siwei
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-16T18:29:42.157Z
2020-01-16T18:29:42.157Z
Xikeck
<p>I have several resources and dictionaries that suggest the word 透 (tou) is pictophonetic where 辶 (chuo) suggests the meaning and 秀（xiu) provides the sound. This confuses me because 透 and 秀 do not seem to be related in sound. I assumed that this may be due to a classical chinese pronunciation but was unable to verify that or find more information.</p>

<p>What is the correct etymology here? thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T10:55:32.647Z
I'm assuming you're uncomfortable with the initial t- vs. xi-? Because 透 and 秀 rhyme perfectly.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T11:09:02.610Z
@droooze Yes, I guess that threw me off. Is the rhyme the link?
user321627
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T11:14:07.900Z
The initial is what lacks a good amount of evidence. We only know that they're barely compatible (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveolar_consonant) vs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveolo-palatal_consonant). I don't personally find the Old Chinese reconstructions convincing...
dROOOze
<etymology>
Dictionaries suggest 透 (tou) is pictophonetic where 秀 (xiu) provides the sound. Is this through a classical chinese pronunciation?
# Dictionaries suggest 透 (tou) is pictophonetic where 秀 (xiu) provides the sound. Is this through a classical chinese pronunciation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-05)

I have several resources and dictionaries that suggest the word 透 (tou) is pictophonetic where 辶 (chuo) suggests the meaning and 秀（xiu) provides the sound. This confuses me because 透 and 秀 do not seem to be related in sound. I assumed that this may be due to a classical chinese pronunciation but was unable to verify that or find more information.

What is the correct etymology here? thanks!

**Tags:** etymology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm assuming you're uncomfortable with the initial t- vs. xi-? Because 透 and 秀 rhyme perfectly.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Yes, I guess that threw me off. Is the rhyme the link?  
> **username_1**: The initial is what lacks a good amount of evidence. We only know that they're barely compatible (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveolar_consonant) vs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveolo-palatal_consonant). I don't personally find the Old Chinese reconstructions convincing...  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-16. Score: 1

Pronoucing them in Cantonese will make sense to you.

[透](https://ykyi.net/dict/index.php?char=%E9%80%8F)，tau3  
[秀](https://ykyi.net/dict/index.php?char=%E7%A7%80)，sau3

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Yes, seems that Cantonese keeps lots of ancient Chinese words(both in pronouciation and meaning)  

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