<p>制 has no ox/bull or cloth. That left component is a corrupted version of 未. 未 is a tree with many branches, ready to be chopped down. There is  as a variant form. Original meaning is &quot;cut&quot; hence the knife component 刀 on the right. After cutting down a tree, the wood obtained can be made into many different objects, thus &quot;make&quot; became an extended meaning. 制 furthermore had more extended meaning.</p>
<p>Over time, 制 became the definition for non-tangible things that can be &quot;made&quot; such as &quot;regulation&quot;, &quot;system&quot;, and &quot;formula&quot;. &quot;Control&quot; 控制 was an extended meaning for the &quot;system&quot; definition. Another component 衣 was added at the bottom becoming 製. This took on the meaning of &quot;make&quot; or &quot;manufacture&quot; for tangible objects such as clothes and furniture.</p>
<p>製 is still the standard in areas that use traditional script such as Hong Kong. In PRC, 製 was removed and 制 is reused as the meaning for make and manufacture.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%88%B6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%88%B6</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-03T14:12:48.563Z
Is there any consolidated list of corrupted characters? possibly in the link?
user27485
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T12:59:22.840Z
Unfortunately there isn't. You have to study the ancient writings to know their etymology to know what the original component is.
Fishuman
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T21:07:53.643Z
@user27485 On Chinese StackExchange, you can search for the tag [glyph-origin] and the word corrupt*, like so: `https://chinese.stackexchange.com/search?q=[glyph-origin]+corrupt*`. This will come up with a list of Q/A that has been asked so far for which characters have been described as having corrupted components.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-02T01:26:49.953Z
2021-05-02T01:32:19.293Z
2021-05-02T01:32:19.293Z
Fishuman
<p>What is the etymology of 制? how the meaning is evolved to Make, manufacture?</p>
<p>Ox + hand kerchief + knife becomes Make or Manufacture?</p>

<etymology><glyph-origin>
Etymology of 制 zhì = make, manufacture
# Etymology of 制 zhì = make, manufacture

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-02)

What is the etymology of 制? how the meaning is evolved to Make, manufacture?

Ox + hand kerchief + knife becomes Make or Manufacture?

**Tags:** etymology, glyph-origin


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-02. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

制 has no ox/bull or cloth. That left component is a corrupted version of 未. 未 is a tree with many branches, ready to be chopped down. There is as a variant form. Original meaning is "cut" hence the knife component 刀 on the right. After cutting down a tree, the wood obtained can be made into many different objects, thus "make" became an extended meaning. 制 furthermore had more extended meaning.

Over time, 制 became the definition for non-tangible things that can be "made" such as "regulation", "system", and "formula". "Control" 控制 was an extended meaning for the "system" definition. Another component 衣 was added at the bottom becoming 製. This took on the meaning of "make" or "manufacture" for tangible objects such as clothes and furniture.

製 is still the standard in areas that use traditional script such as Hong Kong. In PRC, 製 was removed and 制 is reused as the meaning for make and manufacture.

<https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%88%B6>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is there any consolidated list of corrupted characters? possibly in the link?  
> **username_1**: Unfortunately there isn't. You have to study the ancient writings to know their etymology to know what the original component is.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 On Chinese StackExchange, you can search for the tag [glyph-origin] and the word corrupt*, like so: `https://chinese.stackexchange.com/search?q=[glyph-origin]+corrupt*`. This will come up with a list of Q/A that has been asked so far for which characters have been described as having corrupted components.  

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