例 (lì) — an example, case, precedent; a rule

entries → 例

TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字

例 character · TOCFL 2 (est.)

例＝亻＋列

ㄌㄧˋ · lì

noun — an example, case, precedent; a rule

字源 FORM — what the parts do

亻義a person — a case set beside others

列聲liè — gives the soundbones (歹) laid out in a row by a knife (刂) — to rank

FTliè → lì — the -ie wears off, the tone shifts

列 (liè) — bones (歹) laid out in a row by a knife (刂), the picture for ranking — lends the sound. Set a person (亻) beside it and you get one held up against the rest: an example, 例子; the case that sets the pattern, 例外, 慣例. The reading wears from liè to lì.

意 · Meanings

(本義)比類、例子— a case set for comparison; an example常用

→例外、特例— an exception, a special case常用

⇒慣例、例行— a precedent, a standing rule

(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension