<p><strong>或</strong>,is frequently to be seen in classical Chinese with the meaning——<em>someone</em>,such usage is barely seen in modern chinese language.   </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>而楼上人往来屑屑，或凭或立，不一状。————《山市》蒲松龄</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>或</strong>:</p>

<p>It is composed of "<strong>口</strong>" and "弌".<br>
<strong>口</strong> resembles the city wall surrounding a city<br>
<strong>弌</strong> means the first time in night a soldier patrol with a polearm.  </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>弌</strong>, <strong>弍</strong> and <strong>弎</strong> refer to first,second,third time of patrol</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Some people think that <strong>弌</strong>  means that defend his land with polearm</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>或，邦也。从囗，从戈，以守一。一，地也。——《说文》</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Taking the above into consideration, <strong>或</strong> can be understood as <strong>defending one's country with weapons.</strong></p>

<p>It therefore means <strong><em>country</em></strong> and by derivation, <strong><em>someone</em></strong>.</p>

<hr>

<p><strong>EDIT:</strong></p>

<p>If you are interested in classical chinese,<a href="http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8F%A4%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8-%E9%99%88%E5%A4%8D%E5%8D%8E/dp/B0011F959A" rel="nofollow">《古代汉语词典》</a> is recommended. This book is of authoritativeness in china.</p>

<p>If you are interested in modern chinese,<a href="http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B008JAF6HA/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=A1AJ19PSB66TGU&amp;pf_rd_s=center-2&amp;pf_rd_r=1H1XTE29HH16YKFH4JMH&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=58223152&amp;pf_rd_i=899254051" rel="nofollow">《现代汉语词典》</a>  ，This book is used for standardized 普通话,and also used by every students attending college entrance examination.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-21T07:06:17.080Z
This is not completely correct. The character actually consists of what you said + 一. 一 probably refers to the primary resource one tries to protect which is one's land.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-23T04:57:41.063Z
In fact I would recommend 《辭海》《辭源》《康熙字典》 and 《王力古漢語詞典》 instead of 《古代漢語詞典》. I'd say 《王力古漢語詞典》 is excellent!
Mike Manilone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-21T06:20:27.650Z
2013-03-03T18:47:11.033Z
2013-03-03T18:47:11.033Z
张 源
<p>It means "someone" in this case.</p>

<p>From zdic:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>某人，有的人</p>
</blockquote>

<p>From Iciba:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[书] （某人； 有的人） someone ； some people</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-21T11:08:01.270Z
Hi Joe. Thanks for the response and particularly for the reference to zdic. I had not seen this site before, but I will be referencing it a lot in the future. Thanks.
forrest
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-21T15:37:31.560Z
@fmz no problem!
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-21T02:23:39.263Z
2013-02-21T02:23:39.263Z
Stumpy Joe Pete
<p>I am reading a text that uses the following phrase:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>或謂鄭相曰</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I understand it generally to mean that </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>someone told to the prime minister of Zheng saying</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, I don't understand exactly what the character 或 means here. </p>

<classical-chinese>
What is the classical Chinese meaning of 或?
# What is the classical Chinese meaning of 或?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-21)

I am reading a text that uses the following phrase:

> 或謂鄭相曰

I understand it generally to mean that

> someone told to the prime minister of Zheng saying

However, I don't understand exactly what the character 或 means here.

**Tags:** classical-chinese

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-02-21. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

It means "someone" in this case.

From zdic:

> 某人，有的人

From Iciba:

> [书] （某人； 有的人） someone ； some people

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hi Joe. Thanks for the response and particularly for the reference to zdic. I had not seen this site before, but I will be referencing it a lot in the future. Thanks.  
> **username_4**: @fmz no problem!  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-02-21. Score: 1

**或**,is frequently to be seen in classical Chinese with the meaning——*someone*,such usage is barely seen in modern chinese language.

> 而楼上人往来屑屑，或凭或立，不一状。————《山市》蒲松龄

**或**:

It is composed of "**口**" and "弌".  
**口** resembles the city wall surrounding a city  
**弌** means the first time in night a soldier patrol with a polearm.

> **弌**, **弍** and **弎** refer to first,second,third time of patrol

Some people think that **弌** means that defend his land with polearm

> 或，邦也。从囗，从戈，以守一。一，地也。——《说文》

Taking the above into consideration, **或** can be understood as **defending one's country with weapons.**

It therefore means ***country*** and by derivation, ***someone***.

---

**EDIT:**

If you are interested in classical chinese,[《古代汉语词典》](http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8F%A4%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8-%E9%99%88%E5%A4%8D%E5%8D%8E/dp/B0011F959A) is recommended. This book is of authoritativeness in china.

If you are interested in modern chinese,[《现代汉语词典》](http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B008JAF6HA/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=A1AJ19PSB66TGU&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1H1XTE29HH16YKFH4JMH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=58223152&pf_rd_i=899254051) ，This book is used for standardized 普通话,and also used by every students attending college entrance examination.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is not completely correct. The character actually consists of what you said + 一. 一 probably refers to the primary resource one tries to protect which is one's land.  
> **username_3**: In fact I would recommend 《辭海》《辭源》《康熙字典》 and 《王力古漢語詞典》 instead of 《古代漢語詞典》. I'd say 《王力古漢語詞典》 is excellent!  

---

