Definitions
outer coffin
Etymology phono-semantic
wood
Semantic:
木
About
The character 椁, with its traditional form 槨, refers to an outer coffin used in burials. Its structure is pictophonetic, incorporating the wood radical 木 to indicate the material from which it is often made. In the traditional form 槨, the right-hand component 郭 functions as a phonetic element and contributes semantic value related to an outer enclosure, consistent with the coffin's role. The simplified form 椁 replaces 郭 with 享, which serves primarily as a phonetic component but with a less direct semantic link. The character's meaning has been specific to this funerary context throughout its historical use.
Etymology Hide
