Shell Bone Script of character You
The Shell Bone Script for "You" looks like an arrow, possibly several arrows. The "Pictographic Dictionary" does not provide a specific explanation for why multiple arrows represent You. My interpretation is that "You" refers to the person or object the arrow points at.
Another interpretation is that these arrows carried information. During battles, communication between opposing sides involved shooting arrows with messages attached. To ensure the messages were received, multiple feathers to make a big arrow easy to be seen for exchanging information. The arrow is not for killing, but for exchanging information.
Big Seal Script of character You
In the Big Seal Script, the character still resembles an arrow, but the tail is more complex, possibly indicating a launching mechanism.
Small Seal Script of character You
The Small Seal Script is similar to the Big Seal Script.
Clerical Script of character You
In the Clerical Script, the vertical stroke no longer extends upward, making it less resemble an arrow.
Simplified Character of character You
The simplified character looks even less like an arrow but is easier to write.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, people began using "你" to replace "爾" in vernacular writing by adding a single person radical next to "爾". From the Tang dynasty onwards, "你" became widely used, while "爾" was reserved for classical Chinese. 你 means You.
Regardless of whether "爾" or "你" was used, neither retained the meaning of "enemy"; both became neutral pronouns.
Let's see Origin and Evolution of character Good.
Shell Bone Script of character Good
The left is character Child, depicted as a head and body with outstretched arms, and Woman) on the right, depicted as a woman kneeling with arms crossed in front of her chest. Some Shell Bone Script variants place Child on the right and Woman on the left. The woman nurturing a child signifies "goodness". Alternatively, having both a woman and a child was considered "good".
The big seal script of character Good
The left is character Child, the right is character Wamon.
Small Seal Script of character Good
In the Small Seal Script, the woman is on the left, and the child is on the right.
Clerical Script of character Good
In the Clerical Script, the components are similar to the Small Seal Script but with straighter lines.
"你好" (Pinyin "Ni2 Hao3) means "I wish you well". Chinese use 你好 in greeting as often as Americans use Hello in greeting.
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