什

assorted

什 is composed of the radical of 人 (person) and 十 (ten). In the decimal system, 十 marks the end of a stage and carries the meanings of completeness, gathering, and concentration. The original meaning of 什 is a unit of organization in the ancient army, so named because it consisted of ten people. Later, 什 extended to the meaning of numerous and of mixed variety.

Vocabulary of 什

  • 什菜 (mixed vegetables)
  • 什錦 (assortment)

Related Characters: