Note that in today's Putonghua 荷 meaning "lotus" is hé (the 2nd tone) and meaning "carry" is hè (the 4th tone).
How did lotus come to mean hold or carry?
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Nov 07 • 150 read
Reading a little about 'dark matter': 暗物质是宇宙的重要组成部分，它是一种比电子和光子还要小的物质，不带电荷， ....
I read: 不带电荷：doesn't carry an electric lotus! (Maybe that's why it's dark!!)
电荷： electrical charge, literally probably: electricity carry or hold
Apparently 荷 meant lotus first：Original meaning 本义: Meaning lotus.
One meaning of 荷 from zdic.net
(8) 荷：拿，持 [hold]。如:荷杖(拄着拐杖)
Maybe 荷 got this meaning of 'hold, carry' because the Buddha is often pictured sitting on a lotus?
How did this meaning arise?
I read: 不带电荷：doesn't carry an electric lotus! (Maybe that's why it's dark!!)
电荷： electrical charge, literally probably: electricity carry or hold
Apparently 荷 meant lotus first：Original meaning 本义: Meaning lotus.
One meaning of 荷 from zdic.net
(8) 荷：拿，持 [hold]。如:荷杖(拄着拐杖)
Maybe 荷 got this meaning of 'hold, carry' because the Buddha is often pictured sitting on a lotus?
How did this meaning arise?
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Nov 07
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Ali
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Jul 30
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