About
殪 is a phono-semantic compound built on the radical 歹, which relates to death or decay, and the phonetic component 壹. Its core meaning denotes dying, killing, or exterminating, often with a sense of finality. In classical usage, particularly in hunting, it described felling an animal with a single, decisive strike. The radical sets the semantic field of mortality, while 壹 provides the pronunciation, together forming a specific verb for sudden, complete cessation of life.
Etymology Hide