About
揆 is a phono-semantic compound originally meaning to measure, estimate, or carefully consider a situation. The left-hand component 扌 (hand radical) indicates the character's semantic link to manual action, implying physical measurement or manipulation, while the right-hand component 癸, originally one of the Heavenly Stems, serves as a phonetic marker, giving the pronunciation "kuí". Over time, the meaning extended from measuring to a prime minister or chief administrator, responsible for evaluating state affairs and making critical decisions, a usage common in classical texts and historical terminology.
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