“台”字源流及相关字形

The Origin of the Character “Tai” and Its Related Forms

摘要: “台”字在简化字推行过程中合并了“臺”“檯”和“颱”三字，形音义复杂。“台”的本义为喜悦，后另作“怡”表示。“臺”的本义是用土建成四方形的高而平的建筑物。“檯”和“颱”是后起字，“檯”字释义简单，为桌子或类似桌子的器物；“颱”指台风，本读“tāi”，受汉字简化后“读半边字”的影响，从阴平变为了阳平。“如台”一词的“台”字在出土文献中不作“台”，而是两声字“��”，为“怠”或“怡”字异体，通假为“台”。

Abstract: In the process of simplifying characters, the character “Tai” (台) merged the three characters “Tai” (臺), “Tai” (檯), and “Tai” (颱), resulting in complex shapes, sounds, and meanings. The original meaning of “Tai” (台) is joy, and it is later expressed as “Yi” (怡). The original meaning of “Tai” (臺) is to build a square, tall, and flat building with soil. “Tai” (檯) and “Tai” (颱) are the starting characters, with the word “Tai” (檯) referring to a table or similar object; “Tai” (颱) refers to a typhoon. The character “Tai” (台) in the word “Ru Tai” (如台) is not used as “Tai” (台) in unearthed documents, but as a two tone character “Tai” (��), which is a variant of the characters “Dai” (怠) or “Yi” (怡), and commonly used as “Tai” (台).