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The traditional character "膾" is structured with the meat radical "月" denoting its relation to flesh and the phonetic component "會" indicating its pronunciation, while the simplified form "脍" substitutes "會" with the simpler phonetic "会". Etymologically, the character originally referred specifically to thin slices of raw meat or fish, a meaning attested in early Chinese culinary contexts. Over time, its application expanded to encompass finely minced or chopped meat in a more general sense, and it became fixed in the enduring idiom "脍炙人口", where "脍" pairs with "炙" (roast meat) to metaphorically describe something that is universally appealing.
Etymology Hide
