Zi:对
对(F對) [duì] toward (对于); oppose/contrast (反对); treat/handle (对待), answer/respond (对答); correct/right/yes (对, 对了); 对不起 excuse me
One monosyllabic entry in The ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary (namespace Ci):
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The simple-form character 对 (5 strokes) is an abbrev. of the full-form character 對 (14 strokes), replacing the complex left side of 對 (1st 11 strokes) with 又 (2 strokes).
Note: The simple-form component 又 replaces various different complex full-form components, as in 观/觀, 难/難, 鸡/雞; cf. 又.
The full-form character 對 (14 strokes) is itself an abbrev. of the old form 𡭊 (16 strokes), replacing the old lower-left component 口 (3 strokes) with 一 (1 stroke).
The Shuōwén Seal form of 𡭊 duì ‘answer/respond (in kind, proportionally/appropriately/truthfully)’ is said to combine 丵 zhuó ‘thick/lush/competing brush/growth’ (to be cleared away, explained), with 口 kǒu ‘mouth/speech’, and 寸 cùn ‘measure’ (considered/measured response, cf. 忖); later wr. 對, replacing the old lower-left component 口 ‘mouth’ (as in 舌 ‘tongue’) with 士 shì ‘soldier/scholar’, signifying 事實 shìshí ‘fact’, a factual/truthful response (XK, GY, DYC), not a lie (such as would be punishable by cutting out the tongue).
Note: The answer/response is said to be variable, proportional to the forcefulness of the request/inquiry, just as the sound produced by a bell is proportional to the force with which the bell is struck (DYC); that is, the component 丵 functions here as it does in 業(𤑽𤎸) yè ‘wooden frame with teeth/pegs for hanging bells/drums/chimes’, cf. 业.
Note: In the modern form 對 (14 strokes) two strokes are lost, as the bottom of 丵 blends into 士; the expected stroke count would be 對 (16 strokes) = 丵 (10) + 士 (3) + 寸 (3).
Compare: 怼/懟 duì ‘hate/detest’, in which 对/對 duì ‘rival/opponent/adversary’ (phonosemantic); cf. 對: 敌手, 对手.
Compare: 辛(𨐌) xīn ‘bitter/work hard’; 𨐋(䇂) qiān ‘criminal’ (愆); 言 yán ‘direct speech’.
Older graphs associated with 對/𡭊 perhaps have 土 ‘earth’ instead of 士 (HDZ); cf. 丵.
Compare: 树(樹) shù ‘tree’, in which 对 is an abbrev. of 尌 shù (phonosemantic).
Compare: 黹 zhǐ ‘embroidery’, 菐 pú ‘trivial details’, 叢 cóng, 業 yè (all with 丵 component in SW).
►references: Wieger:102i; Karlgren:AD1140; Hànyǔ Dà Zìdiǎn:1.503.10; Mathews:6562; Bǐshùn Guīfàn:021.1.01; Wáng(1993):101; EDOC:0
►components: 又寸
►Cantonese: deui-
<cdl char='对' uni='5BF9'>
<comp char='又' uni='53C8' variant='2' points='0,24 50,118' />
<comp char='寸' uni='5BF8' points='60,0 128,128' />
<!-- 2017-01-20T01:26:55Z -->
</cdl>
<cdl char='又' uni='53C8' variant='2' points='16,8 112,120' radical='K0'>
<stroke type='hp' points='17,0 118,0 0,128' tail='long' />
<stroke type='d' points='17,30 128,114' />
<!-- variant based on [U+EF9C](V=0) -->
</cdl>
<cdl char='寸' uni='5BF8'>
<comp char='' uni='ED1C' points='0,0 128,128' />
<stroke type='d' points='20,60 38,90' />
<!-- 2013-03-12T19:24:34Z -->
</cdl>
<cdl char='' uni='ED1C'>
<stroke type='h' points='0,38 128,38' />
<stroke type='sg' points='84,0 84,128 48,118' />
<!-- 2013-03-12T19:22:51Z -->
</cdl>
►stroke 对 (... strokes)
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Unicode: U+5BF9
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