Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 奪 (duó) depicts a bird flying out of someone's hand. Its ancient form combines 奞 (a bird spreading wings) with 寸 (hand), symbolizing something being taken away or escaping one's grasp. Originally meaning 'to seize' or 'to take by force,' it evolved to represent the concept of deprivation or robbery. The modern form maintains this core meaning of forcibly taking something away, as seen in words like 奪取 (seizure) and 奪回 (recapture). Arrived in Japan: The character 奪 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system and appears in early Japanese documents like the Manyōshū (8th century).