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A phono-semantic compound, 忪 combines the heart radical 忄 (xīn) on the left, indicating emotions or psychological states, with the phonetic 公 (gōng) on the right. It occurs almost exclusively in two binomes. Pronounced zhōng, it pairs with 怔 to form 怔忪 (zhēngzhōng), a state of extreme terror, agitation, or nervous palpitation. Pronounced sōng, it pairs with 惺 to form 惺忪 (xīngsōng), describing the drowsy confusion just after waking. In both cases, the meaning refers to a temporary cognitive or emotional condition, not a permanent trait.
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