秀

Glyph origin
From an earlier form, attested in the stone drum inscriptions from the Warring States period.

According to, the character is an — blooming of a rice plant. The Shuihudi Qin bamboo texts recorded this character as ⿱禾引. The bottom component found in the stone drum inscriptions is likely a reduction of.

Xu Kai, the author of (10th century AD) gave the following explanation: , resembling a fruit/an ear hanging off a plant.

Shuowen states that this character was tabooed at that time (2nd century AD) and so did not elaborate on its origin, due to it being the birth name of Emperor Guangwu of Han.

Etymology 1
May be a causative of. Compare 🇨🇬 (whence 🇨🇬, ), and 🇨🇬.

Definitions

 * 1)   to shoot out into ears; earing; ear
 * 2)   to bear fruit
 * 3)   to blossom
 * 4) beautiful; elegant; graceful
 * 5)  outstanding; prominent; extraordinary
 * 1) beautiful; elegant; graceful
 * 2)  outstanding; prominent; extraordinary
 * 1)  outstanding; prominent; extraordinary
 * 1)  outstanding; prominent; extraordinary
 * 1)  outstanding; prominent; extraordinary
 * 1)  outstanding; prominent; extraordinary

Etymology 2
.

Definitions

 * 1) to manifest; to show; to display
 * 2) show
 * 1) show

Kanji

 * 1) excellent, outstanding

Hanja

 * 1) outstanding, remarkable, excellent