第 1 课

sun; a day; measure word for days;

"日" is a single-component character, belonging to the category of pictograms. 

Etymology and Evolution

• Oracle Bone Script:
  Resembled the shape of the sun—a circle (or slight oval), often with a dot or short stroke inside, emphasizing the sun's substance or rays. The form was realistic and simple.

• Bronze Script:
  Inherited the oracle bone form. The shape became more regular, the circle more pronounced, and the interior dot or stroke was maintained.

• Small Seal Script (Shuowen Jiezi):
  The character became linearized and rectangularized, written as "日". Xu Shen explained it as "substantial. The essence of the great sun does not wane." Its original meaning is the sun. The internal dot evolved into a horizontal stroke.

• Clerical and Regular Scripts:
  Based on the small seal script, the character was further stylized into strokes, changing the rounded lines into straight, square-like笔画, finally solidifying into the modern "日"—a rectangular frame with a horizontal stroke inside.

Original and Extended Meanings

• Original Meaning: The sun. E.g., "日出" (sunrise), "日光" (sunlight).

• Extended Meanings:

  1. Daytime (the period from sunrise to sunset): E.g., "日班" (day shift), "夜以继日" (day and night).

  2. Time unit, a day and night: E.g., "一日" (one day), "多日" (many days).

  3. Every day, day by day: E.g., "日新月异" (changing with each passing day), "日记" (diary).

  4. Refers to a specific day: E.g., "生日" (birthday), "纪念日" (anniversary).

  5. Generally refers to a period of time: E.g., "往日" (bygone days), "来日" (the days to come).

  6. (Modern usage) Refers to Japan: E.g., "日语" (Japanese language).

“日”是独体字，属于象形字。 

字源及演变

• 甲骨文：
  像太阳的形状，为一个圆形（或略呈椭圆形），中间常有一点或一短横，强调太阳的实体或光芒。形态写实而简洁。

• 金文：
  继承甲骨文，字形趋于规整，圆形更加明显，中间的点或横得以保留。

• 小篆（《说文解字》）：
  字形线条化、长方形化，写作“日”。许慎解释为“实也。太阳之精不亏。”，本义即为太阳。字形内部的点演变为一横。

• 隶书与楷书：
  在小篆基础上进一步笔画化，变圆润的线条为方直的笔画，最终定型为今日的“日”字，外框为长方形，内为一横。

本义与引申义

• 本义： 太阳。如：“日出”、“日光”。

• 引申义：

  1. 白天（从日出到日落的一段时间）：如“日班”、“夜以继日”。

  2. 时间单位，一昼夜：如“一日”、“多日”。

  3. 每天，一天一天地：如“日新月异”、“日记”。

  4. 特指某一天：如“生日”、“纪念日”。

  5. 泛指一段时间：如“往日”、“来日”。

  6. （现代用法）指日本国：如“日语”。