Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 犯 is composed of the 'dog' (犬/犭) radical and the phonetic component 㔾. Its original meaning in ancient Chinese was related to a dog's aggression—to 'invade,' 'violate,' or 'commit' a crime. Over time, the meaning broadened to signify any transgression, offense, or violation of laws or norms, reflecting the idea of crossing boundaries, much like an attacking dog. The Liushutong form in L18734 shows an early seal script variant that clearly preserves the structure seen in the modern kanji 犯. Arrived in Japan: The character 犯, along with many other Chinese characters, is believed to have arrived in Japan during the early waves of cultural importation, likely by the 5th century CE via Korean Peninsula intermediaries or directly from China. It was systematically adopted as part of the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods (6th to 8th centuries) when Japan actively imported Chinese law, literature, and writing.