About
掴 is a simplified phonosemantic compound meaning to slap or strike. The left component 扌 (hand) signals an action done with the hand, and the right component 国 (guó) provides the pronunciation. This form simplifies the traditional 摑, where the phonetic was the more complex 國 (囗 enclosing 或), replaced here by 国 (囗 enclosing 玉) while keeping the sound intact. Although earlier usage included grasping, the meaning has narrowed to a sharp blow, often across the face.
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