物

The glyph denotes a tangible entity across three primary ranges:

• Biological: Creatures, beings, or the living diversity of the world (e.g., 萬物).
• Material: Objects, goods, substances, or physical assets.
• Situational/Abstract: A "matter," a state of affairs, or external circumstances.
• Philosophical: In metaphysical contexts, it can refer to a "discrete entity"—a specific manifestation that has emerged from an undifferentiated whole (e.g., 物化), emphasizing the boundary between the individual entity and the cosmos.

Used almost exclusively as a noun. It may function as a category marker in compounds to indicate "material," "substance," or "type of thing."

• 物 vs. 事 (shì): 物 denotes the entity or objective state of affairs (the "stuff" of a situation), whereas 事 denotes an action, process, duty, or event (something that happens). When appearing together as 物事, they encompass the totality of both events and objects.
• 物 vs. 器 (qì): 器 refers specifically to tools, vessels, or objects defined by their utility/function; 物 is broader, referring to a thing's substance regardless of its use.

Tang-period reading: *miət; Fanqie reading: 文弗.

When the meaning is ambiguous, test the following priorities in order:

1. Creature/Being (if the context is ecological or biological).

2. Object/Good (if the context is commercial, domestic, or material).

3. Matter/Circumstance (if the context is abstract or situational).