不然

Etymology · 词源

“不”的历史构形可以这样理解：早期字形以图像方式表达意义。这些部件的作用依据历史字形判断，不等同于今天看到的任意笔画组合。 “然”的历史构形可以这样理解：灬主要提示意义范围；肰主要提示较早的读音。这些部件的作用依据历史字形判断，不等同于今天看到的任意笔画组合。 以上是各字的历史构形说明；“不然”作为现代词语时，应结合完整词义学习，不能把单字意义机械相加。

Pictograph of sepals of a flower. The meaning "no" is a phonetic loan. Phonosemantic compound. 灬 represents the meaning and 肰 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "ignite; burn", now written as 燃. The current meaning is a phonetic loan. These notes explain the characters’ formation. Learn 不然 as a complete modern word rather than mechanically adding isolated character meanings.

Learning note · 学习提示：形旁通常提示意义范围，声旁通常提示较早的读音；现代普通话读音或字义可能已经发生变化。