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The character "肭" is structured with the semantic component "月", indicating a connection to the body or flesh, combined with the phonetic component "内", which guides its pronunciation. Historically, this formation suggests an original association with physical attributes, such as softness or fullness of flesh, but its independent use has largely diminished over time. In modern Chinese, "肭" appears almost exclusively in the compound "腽肭", where it contributes to denoting the walrus, a meaning that specialized from earlier bodily references to a specific zoological term.
Etymology Hide
