<p>「盗」 is Simplified Chinese, the orthodox character is 「盜」.</p>
<hr />
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;">時期<br>字體</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">字形</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">參考資料</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">—</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">（待考）</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">—</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">商</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6mbFG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6mbFG.png" alt="⿱㳄舟" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">前</a>6.32.5<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=8315&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集8315</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou" rel="nofollow noreferrer">西周</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">金</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lxm66.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lxm66.png" alt="⿰舟欠" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">逆父辛觶<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=6416&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成6416</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period" rel="nofollow noreferrer">春秋</a><br>金</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PYNUE.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PYNUE.png" alt="⿳火皿" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">秦公鎛<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=267&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成267</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">—</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">「盜」</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">—</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">秦</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips" rel="nofollow noreferrer">簡</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/t5ljL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/t5ljL.png" alt="盜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.193<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡虎地秦簡</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Eastern_Han" rel="nofollow noreferrer">東漢</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">隸</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/O6NcM.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/O6NcM.png" alt="盜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">春秋 昭廿年<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiping_Stone_Classics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">熹平石經</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">楷</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UYM8U.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UYM8U.png" alt="盜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>Barring new excavated evidence, 「盜」 is only unambiguously traceable back to around the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Qín</a> era. Under these circumstances, the standard practice is to take <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Shuōwén</em></a>'s explanation on face value:</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>《說文・㳄部》</h3>
<blockquote>
<p><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/sxt8m.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/sxt8m.png" alt="盜" /></a><br>　</kbd></p>
<p>「盜」，私利物也。从「㳄」，「㳄」欲「皿」者。</p>
<p>「盜」, to hold selfish desires towards material goods. From semantic 「㳄」 (<em>drool</em> &gt; <em>to covet</em>), 「㳄」 is that who wishes for 「皿」 (<em>dishes/bowls</em>)*.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><sub>*The ancient middle-upper classes often had expensive bronze vessels, so these are a sign of material wealth.</sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>To covet material goods</em> was then extended to <em>to steal</em>. In fact, this isn't too far off from how the glyph origin of 「羨」 (<em>envy</em>) is described - from semantic 「㳄」 (<em>drool</em> &gt; <em>to covet</em>) and semantic 「羊」 (<em>sheep</em>), indicating the original meaning <em>the desire for mutton</em>.</p>
<p>If one wants to trace 「盜」 back to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">oracle bone script</a>, it is usually explained as</p>
<p><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xTEjY.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xTEjY.png" alt="⿱㳄舟" /></a><br>　</kbd></p>
<p>starting off from semantic  <a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=32119" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「㳄」 (<em>picture of a person with an open mouth with spit coming out</em></a> &gt; <em>to flood, overflow</em>) and semantic <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=441" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「舟」 (<em>boat</em>)</a>, indicating the meaning <em>flooding (of a river)</em>.</p>
<p><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HRqWQ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HRqWQ.png" alt="⿳火皿" /></a><br>　</kbd></p>
<p>「㳄」 was later complexified into 「」 through the addition of another 「水」, and 「舟」 was corrupted into 「皿」.</p>
<p>These forms are thought to be pronounced similar to 「㳄・涎」 or 「羨」. How this then becomes the meaning and/or sound of 「盜」 is then a bit of a leap.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>References:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>何琳儀《戰國古文字典：戰國文字聲系》</li>
<li><a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">漢語多功能字庫</a></li>
<li><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian" rel="nofollow noreferrer">小學堂字形演變</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">國學大師</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">郭沫若《甲骨文合集》</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">中國社會科學院考古研究所《殷周金文集成》</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-05T10:22:05.603Z
2021-03-05T23:27:34.527Z
2021-03-05T23:27:34.527Z
dROOOze
<p>What's the story behind this character 盗? None of the components seems to hint at the sound, or the meaning of 'pirate/steal/rob', unless water in the upper left part and is the bottom component a corrupted version of boat 舟?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T12:48:59.190Z
“盗” (u+2f0e), composed by “冫” (u+51ab), “欠” (u+6b20) & “皿” (U+76bf) is **different** from “盜” (u+76dc), in which the upper left component is “氵“ (u+6c35). which one do you want to ask?
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T13:50:14.093Z
Aren't both 盗 and 盜 the same? One is the traditional and one is "simplified" character which only omits one dot.
Fishuman
<glyph-origin><character-components>
Glyph origin of 盗
# Glyph origin of 盗

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-03)

What's the story behind this character 盗? None of the components seems to hint at the sound, or the meaning of 'pirate/steal/rob', unless water in the upper left part and is the bottom component a corrupted version of boat 舟?

**Tags:** glyph-origin, character-components

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: “盗” (u+2f0e), composed by “冫” (u+51ab), “欠” (u+6b20) & “皿” (U+76bf) is **different** from “盜” (u+76dc), in which the upper left component is “氵“ (u+6c35). which one do you want to ask?  
> **username_0**: Aren't both 盗 and 盜 the same? One is the traditional and one is "simplified" character which only omits one dot.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-03-05. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

「盗」 is Simplified Chinese, the orthodox character is 「盜」.

---

| 時期 字體 | 字形 | 參考資料 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| — | （待考） | — |
| [商](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty) [甲](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script) | [⿱㳄舟](https://i.sstatic.net/6mbFG.png) | [前](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference)6.32.5 [合集8315](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=8315&jgwfl=) |
| [西周](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou) [金](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions) | [⿰舟欠](https://i.sstatic.net/lxm66.png) | 逆父辛觶 [集成6416](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=6416&jgwfl=) |
| [春秋](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period) 金 | [⿳火皿](https://i.sstatic.net/PYNUE.png) | 秦公鎛 [集成267](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=267&jgwfl=) |
| — | 「盜」 | — |
| [秦](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty) [簡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips) | [盜](https://i.sstatic.net/t5ljL.png) | 20.193 [睡虎地秦簡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts) |
| [東漢](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Eastern_Han) [隸](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script) | [盜](https://i.sstatic.net/O6NcM.png) | 春秋 昭廿年 [熹平石經](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiping_Stone_Classics) |
| 楷 | [盜](https://i.sstatic.net/UYM8U.png) |  |

Barring new excavated evidence, 「盜」 is only unambiguously traceable back to around the [Qín](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty) era. Under these circumstances, the standard practice is to take [*Shuōwén*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi)'s explanation on face value:

> ### 《說文・㳄部》
>
> > `![盜](https://i.sstatic.net/sxt8m.png)`
> >
> > 「盜」，私利物也。从「㳄」，「㳄」欲「皿」者。
> >
> > 「盜」, to hold selfish desires towards material goods. From semantic 「㳄」 (*drool* > *to covet*), 「㳄」 is that who wishes for 「皿」 (*dishes/bowls*)\*.
>
> \*The ancient middle-upper classes often had expensive bronze vessels, so these are a sign of material wealth.

*To covet material goods* was then extended to *to steal*. In fact, this isn't too far off from how the glyph origin of 「羨」 (*envy*) is described - from semantic 「㳄」 (*drool* > *to covet*) and semantic 「羊」 (*sheep*), indicating the original meaning *the desire for mutton*.

If one wants to trace 「盜」 back to [oracle bone script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script), it is usually explained as

`![⿱㳄舟](https://i.sstatic.net/xTEjY.png)`

starting off from semantic [「㳄」 (*picture of a person with an open mouth with spit coming out*](http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=32119) > *to flood, overflow*) and semantic [「舟」 (*boat*)](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=441), indicating the meaning *flooding (of a river)*.

`![⿳火皿](https://i.sstatic.net/HRqWQ.png)`

「㳄」 was later complexified into 「」 through the addition of another 「水」, and 「舟」 was corrupted into 「皿」.

These forms are thought to be pronounced similar to 「㳄・涎」 or 「羨」. How this then becomes the meaning and/or sound of 「盜」 is then a bit of a leap.

---

**References:**

* 何琳儀《戰國古文字典：戰國文字聲系》
* [漢語多功能字庫](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/)
* [小學堂字形演變](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian)
* [國學大師](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/)
  + [郭沫若《甲骨文合集》](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/)
  + [中國社會科學院考古研究所《殷周金文集成》](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/)


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