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The character 罘 structurally combines the net radical 罒 with the component 不, which serves a phonetic role, indicating an original association with net-like objects such as hunting nets or barriers. Its meaning gradually narrowed over time, and it is now almost exclusively used in the compound term 罘罳, referring to ornamental screens or architectural netting. This semantic shift from a broader category of nets to a specialized architectural element occurred without alteration to its graphical composition.
Etymology Hide
