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The simplified character 帼 (guó) derives from traditional 幗, a phono-semantic compound where 巾 (cloth) hints at the meaning and 国 (from 國) indicates the sound. It originally referred to a traditional cloth headdress or mourning cap worn exclusively by women, and because this headgear was so closely tied to female identity, the character became a metonym for women. This usage survives most visibly in the compound 巾帼 (jīnguó), a respectful term for women or heroines.
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