痤

cuó

坐 + 疒

Definitions

cuó acne

Etymology phono-semantic

sickness

Semantic: 疒 Phonetic: 坐

About

The character 痤 is formed as a phono-semantic compound, with the enclosing sickness radical 疒 (chuáng) and the phonetic component 坐 (zuò, meaning to sit) inside. The component 坐 cues the pronunciation cuó and has no semantic link to the medical definition. Historically and in modern contexts, the character refers to acne, pustules, or small boils on the skin. It is used almost exclusively in the standardized term 痤疮 (cuóchuāng), the formal dermatological diagnosis for acne vulgaris. Its usage is highly specialized, appearing only in discussions of dermatology, skin care, and the treatment of sebaceous gland inflammations.