About
褪 (tuì) is a phono-semantic compound. The radical 火 (huǒ) on the left provides the semantic component, indicating heat or fire. The component 退 (tuì) on the right contributes the phonetic element, while also suggesting the meaning of retreat or removal. This character describes the specific culinary or butchery practice of scalding poultry or pigs in boiling water to loosen feathers or hair for easy removal. The pairing of a heat radical with a phonetic element implying withdrawal effectively captures the physical process of using hot water to clean and prepare an animal carcass.