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The character 胼 (pián) denotes thickened skin or calluses from repetitive labor. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left radical 月 (ròu, "flesh") places it within the anatomical category, while the right component 并 (bìng) provides the phonetic element. The character appears in the idiomatic compound 胼手胝足 (piánshǒuzhīzú), meaning "callused hands and feet", which metaphorically conveys prolonged, arduous physical toil.
Etymology Hide
