About
俚 pairs the human radical 亻, signaling a link to people and their behavior, with the sound component 里, which also denotes a village or a unit of distance. Its original meanings centered on rural inhabitants, village life, and rustic customs, perceived as unrefined next to the sophistication of cities and the imperial court. This rustic association led to broader senses of folksy, vulgar, or lacking elegance. Today, the character is most commonly found in the word 俚语 (slang), referring to the informal, everyday speech of ordinary people.
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