About
The character 痿 is a medical term for physical weakness, muscular atrophy, or partial paralysis of the limbs. It is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 疒 classifies it within the semantic domain of diseases, while the component 委 provides the phonetic value "wěi" and suggests a conceptual link to sagging or loss of strength. Historically, this character has been used in traditional Chinese medical texts to describe syndromes involving muscular withering and loss of function, collectively termed "痿证". In modern terminology, it appears in compound words like 萎缩 to describe conditions such as physical deterioration, erectile dysfunction, and muscular degeneration.
Etymology Hide
