Definitions

lòu fistula; ulceration

Etymology phono-semantic

sickness

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound: the radical places it in the semantic category of diseases and medical conditions, while the phonetic was originally in the traditional form , later simplified to . It denotes a fistula, ulcer, or persistent sore, an abnormal bodily passage or wound that continuously discharges fluids. In historical medical texts, the character served as a precise diagnostic term for chronic localized infections, rather than a broad colloquial usage.