How did lotus come to mean hold or carry?

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  Nov 07  •  140 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?
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Answer
Shakoor

Note that in today's Putonghua 荷 meaning "lotus" is hé (the 2nd tone) and meaning "carry" is hè (the 4th tone).

 0  •  Reply •  Nov 07
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Ali

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