【析形】甲骨文字形是会意字,从宀(房屋),从玉,从贝,会房中藏有珍宝之意。金文字形增声符缶,变成形声字。今简化字作“宝”,以房子中藏着美玉会意。 【释义】《说文》:“珍也。”本义是玉石、玉器的总称。引申为宝贵、珍爱等义。又比喻美德,善道。《论语·阳货》:“怀其宝而迷其邦,可谓仁乎?”比喻有才德而不为国用。后用于称与帝王、佛教、道教等有关的事物,如[宝仗]、[宝刹]。又作为敬辞用于尊称对方的有关事物,如[宝眷]、[宝座]、[宝札]等。 【shape analysis】It is the associative character.In Oracle it is formed with 宀(mián,house),玉(yù,jade)and 贝(bèi,shell)which means there are treasures in the house.It became a pictophonetic character by adding an ideogram 缶(fǒu,earthen jar)in Bronze Inscriptions.Now it was simplified as 宝,an associative character means storing precious jade in house. 【original meaning】The collection of jades and jade articles.