About
硗 (traditional 磽) is an adjective describing land too stony and barren for agriculture. This phono-semantic compound combines the stone radical 石 on the left, marking the semantic field of rock or hard earth, with 尧 (yáo, traditional 堯) on the right, which supplies the pronunciation and may suggest high, rocky ground. The character evokes soil so full of stones that roots struggle to grow and harvests fail. In historical literature, it often appears in depictions of harsh landscapes, underscoring the difficulty of cultivating such land and the poverty it brings.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.