零

Alternative forms
In Japan, Korea and Traditional Chinese, the bottom component is written  + , similar to its  form. In as defined by Taiwan MOE and Hong Kong CLIAC,  is written  +. In, the component is written  +.

Glyph origin
. On the oracle bone script, only thick raindrops are depicted falling from the sky.

Etymology 1
Unclear. proposes several possibilities:
 * From ; compare 🇨🇬, from 🇨🇬.
 * Possibly related to 🇨🇬, for which STEDT sets up . also relates it to this Jingpho word and sets up, also comparing 🇨🇬 and 🇨🇬.
 * Possibly related to and  if one assumes  (or its variant ) can be simplified to *re- and *we-.

Sense "zero" is introduced in 1248 by.

Definitions

 * 1) fragmentary; scattered
 * 2) fraction; remainder
 * 3)  zero
 * 4)  bottom
 * 5)  drizzle
 * 6)   to fall
 * 7)  to wither and fall
 * 8)  six
 * 1)  bottom
 * 2)  drizzle
 * 3)   to fall
 * 4)  to wither and fall
 * 5)  six
 * 1)  bottom
 * 2)  drizzle
 * 3)   to fall
 * 4)  to wither and fall
 * 5)  six
 * 1)  drizzle
 * 2)   to fall
 * 3)  to wither and fall
 * 4)  six
 * 1)  to wither and fall
 * 2)  six
 * 1)  six
 * 1)  six

Descendants
Others:

Kanji

 * 1) spill
 * 2) zero

Readings
From ; compare 🇨🇬:

From ; compare 🇨🇬:

From native roots:

Etymology 1
From  with an original meaning of a small rainfall. The character was later repurposed in 1248 by mathematician Li Ye as a placeholder, extending from its a little bit (of rain) meaning to indicate a bit more remaining. In Li Ye's notation, a number like 302 would be represented as, literally three hundred and remaining two, with the character used as a means of skipping the tens place, by indicating zero tens. It would thus implicitly take on the meaning of.

Noun

 * 1) zero

Numeral

 * 1) zero

Usage notes
The spelling is more common in numeric notation.

Etymology 1
From.

Etymology 2
From.