classification, belong

屬 is composed of a variant of 尾 (tail) and 蜀 (Sichuan). 尾 represents the back or rear, while 蜀 is a pictograph of a cobra. Therefore, 屬 conveys the idea of the back of a cobra. The most distinctive feature of a cobra is the eye-like pattern on its back, which is clear and easily recognizable. From this, 屬 came to mean category or class, and also carries the meaning of belonging to.