■ radical

bǎo

to safeguard

How it’s built

Pictograph of a person carrying a child on their back.

iconic

person — 亻 is a component form of 人.

iconic

son; child

◎

component

characterless component — The purpose of these two strokes is unclear. Possibly represents two hands carrying the child.

Through the ages

Oracle bone script

Bronze script

Seal script

Appears in

Characters that use 保 as a component, most common first.