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唏 is a phono-semantic compound where 口 'mouth' indicates the meaning and 希 xī supplies the pronunciation. It denotes sounds of sighing, sobbing, or lamenting, typically conveying emotional distress or exhaustion. Although 希 means 'hope' or 'rare' on its own, here it functions purely for its sound. The character often appears in the compound 唏嘘, meaning to snivel and sigh continuously, and is used in literary contexts to express sorrow or regret.
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