舂

chōng

臼 + 𡗗

Definitions

chōng to pound (grain); beat

Etymology phono-semantic

mortar

Semantic: 臼

About

舂 is an ideogrammatic compound character composed of two main graphic elements that together depict the pounding of grain. The upper part, derived from 𦥑, symbolizes two hands reaching down, while the lower part is the radical 臼, a mortar; the central vertical strokes between them represent the pestle thrust downward by the hands. This visual integration conveys the core meaning of pounding or husking grain, a task tied to historical cereal processing and agricultural preparation.