About
The character 瞍 is structured with the eye radical 目 combined with the component 叟, which functions phonetically and semantically to suggest advanced age. Etymologically, 瞍 originally referred to a blind person, often implying blindness associated with old age. In classical usage, the term specifically denoted blind men who served as musicians or narrators in courtly contexts, highlighting a historical social role tied to visual impairment. Over time, its meaning generalized to encompass blindness or a blind individual more broadly, while the character's form, centered on the 目 radical, continued to reflect its connection to sight.
Etymology Hide
