“按(案)”词义考

Study on the Meaning of the Word “An(An)(按(案))”

"按"的本义是动词"手往下按"。"案"通"按"。"按酒"即"下酒",就是使酒下肚,也就是喝酒。能使酒顺利下肚的一定是好的菜肴,所以"按酒"也作名词,谓下酒菜,这是"按"的本义用法。"按"由具体动作转为泛指动词,多表示执持义,构成"按歌"、"按曲"、"按辔"、"按节"等双音词,分别表示奏乐演唱和执辔驾车等。"按"的抽象义多表示依照、执行,构成"按据"、"按法"等双音词,表示依照或执法等。

The original meaning of An（按） is pressing the hands down. Another character An（案） has the same meaning. Anjiu（按酒） is Xiajiu（下酒）, it means making the wine into belly, in other words, it means drinking wine. It must be delicious food which can go well with wine, so Anjiu（按酒） could be a noun with its meaning of snacks, and this is the original meaning of An（按）. An（按） can be used as verb, and it source from the usage of noun. Its meaning is taking, for example, Ange（按歌）, Anqu（按曲）, Anpei（按辔）, Anjie（按节） mean playing music, singing, or riding horses respectively. An（按） has its abstract meaning of according frequently, for example, Anju（按据） and Anfa（按法）. This paper discussed the evolution of the character of An（按,案~）, and other words which are related to it.