“葱”不见于甲骨文,心上加一短竖这个字是“悤”字,表示心有孔窍,是聪明的意思,也就是“聪”的古字。该字后来成为“葱”的声符,“葱”之所以叫“葱”,大概也是叶子中空的原因。
TheChinesecharacter“葱”(cōng)cannotbefoundinoraclebonescript.Thecharacter“悤”isformedbyaddingashortverticalstrokeabove“心,”whichmeans“thehearthasitshiddendepths,”conveyingtheideaofintelligence.Itisanancientformofthecharacter“聪”(cōng).Lateron,“悤”becamethephoneticcomponentof“葱.”Thename“葱”likelycomesfromthefactthatitsleavesarehollow.(文字翻译童林)