省
xǐng
#665 most
frequent character
(bound form) to scrutinize
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
省 first meant 'to inspect plants closely'. It was once 生 shēng, a sprouting plant, with 目 eye. 生 also supplied the sound, but the shape later changed to 少. The xǐng reading kept the original senses; shěng borrowed the sound for 'save resources' and later 'province'.
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