"寻"从《说文解字》的两个义项出发, 分别发展出了两条不同的演变轨迹:一、从动词义"理清"到"寻找", 再虚化出介词义"沿着";二、从数量词"八尺"延伸出时间副词义"不久", 再虚化为关联副词义"于是".《汉语大字典》中"寻"字条下第13个义项"遂"缺乏文献使用的引例, 本文中的例句或许可以作为补充.
Starting from the two meanings of Shuowen Jiezi, xun (寻) has evolved two different development paths. 1. Xun (寻) is transformed from the verb "searching" to "seeking" and then into the preposition "along"; 2. Xun (寻) is transformed from the quantifier "eight feet" into the adverb of time "soon" and then into the adverb of relevance "thus".