“快”的字形演变及词义考证

The Morphological Evolution and Semantic Research of"Kuai"

“快”字在甲骨文、金文中没有相关用例,最早见于战国出土的楚简文献中。根据“夬”的释义及从夬得声的同源字,得出“夬”的本义应为残破、残损义,进而把“快”的本义理解为形容人将郁结的怨气从心口中释放出来后,内心痛快、畅快的状态,欢喜义应作为其直接引申义,“夬”兼具表意功能,“快”应是会意兼形声字。按照词义范畴理论,将“快”的诸多义项归为心态义、速度义、时间义、性质义四个范畴,结合语料,推测出各义项的产生及应用时间,形容词义项产生时间多位于上古和中古时期,副词义项产生时间位于中古后期,在近代才开始广泛应用,并理清其词义引申的方向有表“高兴义”和表“速度义”两种。

The Chinese character"Kuai"is first found in Chu Jian in the Warring States.It is concluded that the original meaning of"Guai"which is part of"Kuai"means broken,or damaged.Therefore,as a pictophmetic character,"Kuai"should originally mean someone who is happy to ease anger from heart.Semantically,"Kuai"can refer to mentality,speed,time,and nature.Its adjective meanings should form in the ancient and medieval times,while the adverb meanings formed in late middle ages.In modern times,"Kuai"is widely used to mean"happiness"and"speed".