Definitions
Etymology phono-semantic
building
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廛 is built around the radical 广 (building, shelter) enclosing the upper and left, which evokes dwellings or fixed locations. Inside, the component 里 (village) plays a dual phonetic and semantic role, reinforcing the connection to land divisions and human settlements. Originally, the character referred to a plot of residential land allotted to a commoner household in ancient agrarian society. Over time, its meaning shifted to denote a marketplace, shop, or commercial space where merchants traded goods in urban or semi-urban areas.
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