民
mín
#113 most
frequent character
(bound form) the people
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
民 draws a person with a pierced eye and a sharp tool. That image of a slave being punished gave the first meaning, 'enslaved person'. From there the word grew to mean ordinary people, those outside the nobility, and then a citizen.
Drawn as: person with pierced eye; sharp implement
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