Definitions

zhēn gizzard

Etymology phono-semantic

flesh

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound combining the flesh radical (a reduced form of 'flesh', indicating body parts, organs, or meat) on the left, and the phonetic on the right, which determines the reading. Its sole definition is the gizzard, the muscular stomach of a bird used for grinding food, often with the help of small stones. Throughout its history, the character has been confined to biological and culinary terminology, never taking on any abstract, metaphorical, or extended senses. The construction of a semantic flesh classifier with a dedicated phonetic yields a precise, unambiguous name for this avian organ.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern