There are numerous 異体字 where the relation between the two characters is just a different arrangement of all the parts. For instance 裏/裡, 群/羣, 胸/胷, 棋/棊...
Are there instances where a simple re-arrangement of parts results in a change in meaning?
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As worded, there won’t be an end to the number of possible answers to this question - anyone can pull examples from the top of their head (here: 集 and 椎) if they think hard enough. Are you looking for something more concrete, e.g an explanation, or are you just looking for a list?– dROOOzeCommented Jan 27 at 7:36
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1I couldn't come up with a concrete example where the components are actually the same etymologically wise/the difference in meaning isn't just a Japanese oddity. For instance: 集 is actually the abridged form 雧. 累 is the abridged form of 纍 whilst 細 is the corruption 𥿳. The difference of 脇/脅 is only seen in Japanese, 脇 is in reality just a 異体字 with the same naming.– epistularumCommented Jan 27 at 7:42
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Ohh, but 忘 and 忙 is not a Japanese oddity either, the different word usage it represents was inherited from Chinese. Also, out of the examples you just listed, 集 actually has the same components as 椎, it’s just that two of the three birds in 雥 were removed. There is actually no 田 in 累 or 細. Interesting tibit about 脇 and 脅 though.– dROOOzeCommented Jan 27 at 7:52
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1 Answer
The following pairs are not 異体字 from historical point of view, but in modern forms they appear in this way:
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Thank you, that is a very simple and concrete example. This led me to a very interesting article by 漢字文化資料館 Commented Jan 27 at 7:28