About
The character "揶" is a phono-semantic compound formed from the hand radical "扌" and the phonetic component "耶", indicating both its pronunciation and a semantic connection to actions involving the hands. Its usage is almost entirely confined to the disyllabic term "揶揄", where it contributes to the meaning of ridicule or teasing. Historical instances of this compound demonstrate the character's role in expressing mockery, and its structural composition has not varied in standard orthography. The components "扌" and "耶" remain central to the character's identity in written language.