Han character 範

It can mean a model, standard, rule, or boundary.

範 appears in bronze inscriptions—writing on bronze objects. A Han-dynasty dictionary records 範軷, a ceremony to open a road before a journey. Some analyses connect its form with 車 (“vehicle”) and 𨊠, another old character; that account is debated.

Later records trace “mould” (a form used to shape material) to “model” or “standard,” then “rule” or “boundary.” Japanese 範囲 means “range,” 模範 is a model to follow, and Mandarin 防範 means guarding against harm.