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繇 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 系 (silk, binding) provides the meaning, while the phonetic 䍃 is composed of 爫 (claw) and 缶 (jar). This character has multiple pronunciations and distinct meanings that depend on literary context. It can be used interchangeably with 徭 to mean forced labor or corvée in ancient times, function similarly to 由 indicating cause or source, or refer to folk songs and ballads when pronounced differently. Due to this wide range of uses, 繇 appears primarily in classical texts, where its specific meaning must be inferred from the surrounding historical or literary context.
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