About
The character 妁 is a phono-semantic compound, with the semantic radical "女" (woman) indicating its association with female roles, and the phonetic component "勺" (spoon). Etymologically, it specifically denotes a matchmaker or go-between who arranges marriages. It is almost exclusively found in the compound term "媒妁", a classical term for the agents who negotiated betrothals in traditional customs. The use of "勺" as a phonetic element is obscure, but the character's link to female social roles reflects the historical fact that marriage brokering was primarily an occupation for older women.
Etymology Hide
