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嶙 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 山 ('mountain') with the phonetic component 粦 (pronounced lín). It serves as an adjective for precipitous, jagged mountain ranges and rocky terrain. Although 粦 refers to will-o'-the-wisp or phosphorescence, its role here is purely phonetic, contributing no luminous meaning. The character appears almost exclusively in the literary compound 嶙峋, which evokes the daunting, uneven, and harsh visual texture of imposing stone formations and cliff faces.
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