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The character 垸 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 土 (earth) with the phonetic element 完. It originally designated an earthen dike or embankment built to prevent flooding. The meaning later broadened to include the arable land enclosed and protected by such dikes, a usage that remains especially common in the river regions of central and southern China. The 土 component reflects the construction material, and the word is deeply rooted in this regional agricultural context.
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