1, if, is a first-class standard Chinese character (commonly used word). This word first appeared in Shang Dynasty Oracle Bone Inscriptions and Shang Dynasty inscriptions, and its ancient glyph looks like a person raising his hand to stroke his hair. Its original meaning should be "Shun".
2. The word "ruo" is often used as the meaning of "image and ru" in later generations, and the meaning of "ru" can be extended to "harmony".
3. The word "ruo" can be used as the second person pronoun, which is equivalent to "you, yours". It can also be used as a hypothetical conjunction, which is equivalent to "if" in modern Chinese.
Glyph evolution:
1, if the earliest hieroglyphs. Oracle Bone Inscriptions-shaped, like the shape of a woman combing her hair, with long hair in the middle and her right and left hands raised close to her hair, indicating that she is combing her hair smoothly. The curve below shows the sitting body.
2. Inscription (the upper part of the glyph is the same as that of Oracle Bone Inscriptions, and the lower part is half vertical; Some glyphs add a "mouth" to the lower left, which becomes a knowing word. Not only straighten your hair, but also highlight the meaning that matches your mouth.
3. The shape of Qin seal script has changed a lot. The upper part representing hands and hair becomes a "thorn" head and "you", and the lower part is a "mouth". It probably means sorting out weeds by hand, and zigzag means straightening out weeds.
4. The Han Li glyph is further changed on the basis of Qin Zhuan, and becomes the word "if" with "strong" or "strong" and "right" below. Judging from the shape of Oracle Bone Inscriptions, the original meaning of "Ruo" refers to the situation of women combing their hair, which probably expresses the meaning of conformity.
5. Shang Chengzuo's Word Compilation of Yin Ruins: "If Oracle Bone Inscriptions raises his hand and steps on it, it will be smooth if he promises; if Gu Nuo has the same word, it will be smooth if he teaches. If the ancient bronze inscriptions are similar to this. "