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The character "缢", meaning to hang or strangle, is formed from the silk radical "纟" and the component "益", with the traditional form "縊" employing the unsimplified silk radical "糸". The silk radical etymologically references a cord or rope used in the act of hanging, while "益" serves as a phonetic element. Over time, the character's meaning has specifically denoted death by ligature, applied in historical and literary contexts to both execution and suicide.
Etymology Hide
