TSUMUGU · B1 · 字
脾
脾 ＝ 月 ＋ 卑
ㄆㄧˊ · pí
noun — the spleen
字源 FORM — what the parts do
卑聲bēi — gives the sounda hand holding low — lowly, low-down
{b,p}ITbēi → pí — the initial crosses within {b,p}, tone falls
Flesh (月) with 卑, which carries the sound and once meant low, set beneath. The organ tucked low in the body. 卑 bēi has drifted to pí; the spleen was long held to seat the temper, so 脾氣 is one's mood. The same 卑 builds 碑、啤、婢.
意 · Meanings
(本義)脾臟— the spleen常用
→脾氣— one's temper — the spleen as seat of mood常用
→脾胃— spleen and stomach — appetite, taste
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
卑bēithe phonetic standing bare, meaning lowly — 脾 puts it on flesh (); alone 卑 is the low hand碑＝ 石 ＋ bēisame with 石 — a stone tablet, keeping 's own reading