About
疖 is a phono-semantic compound that functions as the simplified form of 癤. The outer component 疒, the sickness radical, indicates the category of disease, specifically skin conditions and localized ailments. Inside, 卩 serves as a phonetic component, replacing the more complex 節 found in the traditional character. Etymologically, the character designates a boil (or furuncle), a bacterial infection of a hair follicle causing a painful swelling. Its meaning has remained strictly medical throughout its history, never developing metaphorical or abstract uses in standard language.
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