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The character 珉 refers to a semi-precious stone that closely resembles jade yet is inferior in both physical properties and cultural value. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 王, a form of 玉 meaning 'jade', indicates the semantic category of gems and minerals, while the right component 民 provides the pronunciation. It appears regularly in classical literature and philosophical works, where it serves as a metaphor; by contrasting 珉 with genuine jade, these texts highlight the difference between superficial likeness and true intrinsic worth or moral integrity.
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