%%, %%,
"%%%, %%%%%%
"%%%, %%%%"
"%%%" %%%%
%%%
%%%% ,%%%,
"%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%%%" %%%%
,%%%% ,%%%%
,%%%% ,%%%%" ,%%,
,%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
,%%%" %%%%
,%%%" ,%%%%
,%%%% ,%%%%" ,%%,
,%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
,%%%" %%%%
,%%%" %%, %%%%
%%%" %%, %%, %%, "%%, %%%%
%%%% %%%, %%%, %%%% %%%%
%%%% %%%% %%%% "%%" ,%%%%
%%%% "%%" "%%" ,%%%%%
%"" %%%%%"
"%%%%%%%%%"
"%%%%%%
In older forms, a pictograph of a hand reaching down toward an elephant. Some scholars have interpreted this to be referring to a hand training an elephant, which involves doing the same action over and over again and this by association gives the present meanings. However, there is a conflicting theory.
Other scholars feel that the ancient form of this character is a hand making or shaping something; and indeed, ancient meanings of this character used to mean, "to form," or, "resemble." This came to mean to imitate somebody's gestures, an act of learning something to do over and over again with, "to practice," as an associated meaning. In fact, the modern form of to imitate uses this character as a radical in combination with the radical for person.