About
The character "眇" is composed of the radical "目" for eye and the component "少", which historically functioned phonetically while concurrently suggesting a sense of smallness or reduction. Its original meaning referred specifically to a physical impairment of vision, such as blindness in one eye or limited sight. Over time, the semantic range widened to include the act of squinting or looking with partially closed eyes, which then extended metaphorically to describe anything minute or indistinct. In classical contexts, it could also denote a careful, scrutinizing gaze. This evolution from a concrete visual condition to broader connotations of diminution and focused observation occurred while the character's structural arrangement of "目" and "少" persisted.
Etymology Hide
