出土
chūtǔ · HSK 7
be unearthed
⛏️ 出 (go out) + 土 (earth) = come out of the ground
Literally exit + soil. Think of an archaeologist's shovel hitting something solid — the artifact exits the earth. Used for excavated relics and fossils that surface after centuries underground.
出 — foot 止 emerging from enclosure 凵
出 is a pictograph showing a foot or plant stepping out of a hollow or enclosure, depicting the act of going forth. The original sense of 'coming out' or 'emerging' has remained stable since oracle bone script. It now broadly means 'to exit, go out, or produce.'
土 — pictograph of a mound of earth on the ground
土 is a pictograph showing a lump or mound of soil resting on the ground line. In oracle bone script it depicted an earthen heap, sometimes interpreted as an altar to the earth god. The meaning has remained stable: earth, soil, or ground.