About
The character 矍 is an ideogrammatic compound that conveys the concept of heightened alertness or a startled, darting gaze. Structurally, it features two 目 (eye) components at the top, indicating vision, positioned above a complex bottom section containing elements for a bird 隹 (short-tailed bird) and a hand 又. This arrangement of multiple eyes visually suggests a vigilant or panicked look, like a startled bird glancing around anxiously to evade capture. In contemporary usage, it is most commonly found in the compound 矍铄, which describes an elderly person as hale, hearty, and full of lively visual awareness, a shift from anxious vigilance to spirited vitality.
Etymology Hide
