更
gēng
to change or replace
to experience; one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided; watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard)
unity (一) + speech (曰) + crossing lines (乂) = change and watch periods
The crossing lines suggest alternation or replacement, while the speech element hints at announcing changes like guard rotations. Ancient night watches were marked by calls and changes of duty, connecting the ideas of time periods and replacement.
他在城墙上打更，每隔两小时换一次。
tā zài chéng qiáng shàng dǎ gēng, měi gé liǎng xiǎo shí huàn yī cì。
he kept watch on the city wall, rotating every two hours.
古代的人把夜晚分成五更来计时。
gǔ dài de rén bǎ yè wǎn fēn chéng wǔ gēng lái jì shí。
people in ancient times divided the night into five watches to mark the hours.
Words with 更
更为
gèng wéi
even more
更有甚者
gèng yǒu shèn zhě
furthermore (idiom)
国际日期变更线
guó jì rì qī biàn gēng xiàn
international date line
更是
gèng shì
even more (so)
更衣
gēng yī
to change clothes
半夜三更
bàn yè sān gēng
see 三更半夜[san1 geng1 ban4 ye4]
更改
gēng gǎi
to alter
都更案
dū gēng àn
urban development project
除旧更新
chú jiù gēng xīn
to replace the old with new (idiom)
齿更
chǐ gēng
dental transition (from milk teeth to adult teeth)
一更
yī gēng
first of the five night watch periods 19:00-21:00 (old)
三更
sān gēng
third of the five night watch periods 23:00-01:00 (old)