About
The character 堋 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 土 (tǔ, earth) on the left with the phonetic component 朋 (péng) on the right. Its primary meaning, when pronounced péng, refers to an earthen wall, dam, or archery target. An alternative pronunciation, bèng, relates to the burial of a coffin or funerary rites involving earthworks. Both senses fundamentally involve shaping earth for construction or ceremonial purposes, though the character is rare in modern use.
Etymology Hide
