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The character 泗 is a phono-semantic compound that carries both geographical and physiological significance. Its left side, the water radical 氵, establishes a semantic link to liquids, while the right side 四 (sì, meaning 'four') serves as the phonetic component. As a geographical name, it designates the Si River in Shandong province. In classical Chinese, it refers to nasal mucus, frequently appearing alongside 涕, the character for tears, in the expression 涕泗 (tì sì) to convey violent crying. Thus, the character functions either as a place name or as a formal term for nasal secretions.
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