TAI

tai(1)

Human languages started out as systems of sounds with which members of the species communicate, not as systems of graphics. Thus, languages that use a system of writing that represents sounds do have a competitive edge over languages that apply two different sets of meaning systems, one for sounds and one for graphics, as Chinese languages do. The edge of languages that are sound representations is two-fold. First, they can adapt quicker  to changes; and second, they can more easily integrate foreign words.

In the modern, globalised world, Chinese languages themselves develop towards a system of sound representation. Here just one example:

胎 = foetus; tyre

The meaning 'tyre' is new to this character, as tyres are a comparatively new invention. And why was the character 胎 used for the meaning 'tyre'? Because of the sound similarity. In a graphical representation, a new character would have to be designed, maybe combining existing characters for 'wheel', 'rubber', and 'wind'.

The following related shopsign may be spotted:

售胎补胎 = shou(4) tai(1) bu(3) tai(1) = Sell tyre repair tyre

tai(2)

tai(3)

tai(4)