• 自(nose (pictographic) → self; body)

Ancient people pointed to their nose when saying "I," so the character for nose also means self.

• ⺊(dot above; high position)
• 一(standard baseline; norm)

A dot mark sitting above a horizontal line represents the meaning 'above'.

• 而(beard; whiskers (pictographic))

A drooping beard drawn downward became the connective word meaning "and, but, moreover" in sentences.

• 一(horizontal line; boundary)
• 卜(stroke descending downward)

A vertical stroke pointing downward across a boundary line marks 'below'.

• 自(nose (pictographic) → self; body)

Ancient people pointed to their nose when saying "I," so the character for nose also means self.

• ⺊(dot above; high position)
• 一(standard baseline; norm)

A dot mark sitting above a horizontal line represents the meaning 'above'.

• 而(beard; whiskers (pictographic))

A drooping beard drawn downward became the connective word meaning "and, but, moreover" in sentences.

• 一(horizontal line; boundary)
• 卜(stroke descending downward)

A vertical stroke pointing downward across a boundary line marks 'below'.