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The character 羸 is a phono-semantic compound with the sheep radical 羊 in the lower-middle, providing the semantic link to livestock. The surrounding enclosure 𣎆 serves as the phonetic component. Originally, it described sheep that were malnourished, exhausted, or ill, appearing frail and emaciated. This meaning later extended to any living creature, including humans, that is physically weak, sickly, or lacking vitality. The character is often used in formal or literary contexts to convey severe physical weakness or the debilitating effects of prolonged hardship.
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