■ radical
shuài
commander
How it’s built
Simplified form of 帥. Originally a pictograph of two hands pulling a rod, based on the original meaning "lead; command". The meaning later shifted to "handsome". The purpose of the 巾 (cloth) is unclear. It possibly represents a special cloth worn by commanders.
刂
simplified
knife — Shorthand for the ◎ component in the traditional character 帥. Depicts something being pulled by two hands. Unrelated to the 𠂤 (heap; pile; buttocks) component even though it looks identical in the modern form.
巾
component
cloth; towel — The purpose of this component is unclear. Possibly represents a special cloth worn by a commander.
Through the ages