Origin

The character 又 is a simple picture of a hand or arm with fingers spread, drawn from above. In ancient Chinese writing, this hand shape came to represent the idea of "again" or "repeatedly" — as if reaching out or grasping something over and over. Over time, the meaning broadened to include "or," "furthermore," and "on the other hand," all senses where something is added or presented as an alternative. The two strokes still show the basic outline of a splayed hand, though the shape is now highly simplified and abstract.