time, day

辰 depicts a cliff and wooden supports, conveying the idea of earth-retaining works that prevent a cliff from collapsing. 辰 has multiple meanings and can mean to shake or to raise, but these senses were later taken over by 振 and 震. A cliff appears eternal and unchanging; only when the cliff is weathered, deformed, or collapses do people become aware of the passage of time. Nowadays, 辰 specifically refers to time or days.