Chinese characters originated in China and are self-originating characters used to record and express Chinese. Chinese characters have continuity in the attributes of shape and meaning, show strong vitality, and are unique in the existing world writing system. Chinese characters have experienced a long history of use and development, and the unique phonological structure has contributed to an important transformation in the history of Chinese characters development with an irreplaceable trend. The relationship between the three elements of Chinese character shape, sound and meaning is complex and entangled, and needs to be analyzed in detail for specific issues. The paper bases on the practice idea of interpreting exegesis by sound and makes a new interpretation of the character Yi (医) and Yi (殹) by using academic research results. The meaning of Yi (医) is ‘something used to hide a bow and arrow’. The meaning of Yi (殹) is the same as Yi (医). According to inductive analysis, the characters with Yi (殹) as their radical have the meaning of ‘hidden’. And Yi (殹) further extended the meaning of ‘black’. Then Yi (殹) is often used as a phonetic sign.

• 李宇(중국정주대학) | Yu LI