fèn

manure

Original meaning: 

to clean up

Depicts two hands () using a dustpan () to sweep away garbage or feces. Based on the original meaning "to clean up". The meaning later shifted to "manure".

Components
米 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

rice

Used here to depict garbage or feces.

其 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

its, his, (3p possessive)

Depicts a dustpan.

廾 iconic component

  Iconic component

gǒng

  

two hands

Evolution

糞 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
糞 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
糞 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
糞 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
糞 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

fèn

manure, dung, night soil; manure; dung

Most common words with 糞
Freq.
Word
Meaning

manure

粪便

excrement

大粪

human excrement

粪土

dung

化粪池

septic tank

Component uses

Sound component in 1 character (0 verified)