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A phono-semantic compound, 圯 combines the earth radical 土 on the left, suggesting a structure made of soil, clay, or masonry, with the phonetic component 巳 on the right, which dictates the pronunciation. Its primary, and nearly exclusive, meaning is a bridge, originally designating an early form of crossing built from earth, stone, or brick to span waterways or uneven terrain. In classical literature, the character is used to specify a solid earthen or stone bridge, contrasting it with those constructed entirely of wood or suspended materials. Over centuries, even as bridge-building evolved, 圯 preserved this specific architectural sense, and it is most famously associated with historical tales of momentous encounters on a particular earthen bridge.
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