About
The character 伉 (kàng) is a phono-semantic compound that pairs the semantic radical 亻 (rén, 'person') with the phonetic 亢 (kàng), which denotes high, rigid, or overbearing qualities. Reflecting the firm, upright nature of the phonetic, the character originally described a strong and unyielding person. Over time, the meaning expanded to signify an equal match or peer, and from this developed its most common modern use: denoting a spouse or married couple, particularly in the formal expression 伉俪 (kànglì).
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