诸 zhū all
all; many; various; surname
How it came to be
The words block, with the specialist block beside it for the sound. There is no old form. It stands for the phrase "of them all": a word of grammar, not a picture of anything.
How it is used
- All/various (literary plural) - 诸位 (zhūwèi) 'everyone/all of you' (formal address), 诸多 (zhūduō) numerous/a great many.
- 诸如 (zhūrú) = such as: 诸如此类 (zhūrú-cǐlèi) and the like/things of this kind.
- Fusion of 之于/之乎: 诉诸 (sùzhū) to resort to/appeal to (诉诸武力 to resort to force), 付诸 to put into (付诸行动 to carry into action).
- Bookish/formal register; also a surname (诸/诸葛).