Definitions
to pound (grain); beat
Etymology phono-semantic
mortar
Semantic:
臼
About
The character "舂" etymologically signifies the act of pounding, particularly grain, with its structure depicting hands manipulating a pestle above a mortar, where the upper component represents the hands in action and the lower component "臼" denotes the mortar. This ideographic form directly correlates to its meaning of grinding or crushing with a pestle. Over time, the character's usage has centered on processes involving pounding, such as in "舂米" for hulling rice, and it appears in compounds related to food preparation or material processing without substantial deviation from its original sense.
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