象形

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 象形, read しょうけい, combines an object's image 象 with form 形 to denote shaping a sign after appearance.
• Basic usage: It denotes forming a sign or character after the shape of an object, as in 古代文字の象形.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Scope and context
  • It is one method of forming shapes and does not license reading every modern character as a literal picture.