Definitions
(phonetic); fragrant
Etymology
About
苾 is a phono-semantic compound formed by the grass radical 艹 and the phonetic 必. The 艹 component places it in the semantic realm of plants and herbs, while 必 indicates the pronunciation. Its core meaning is a strong, sweet fragrance, particularly the scent of blooming flowers or aromatic herbs. The character also appears phonetically in Buddhist transliterations, most notably in the term for a fully ordained monk, where it contributes only its sound. Thus, 苾 serves a dual purpose: a descriptive term for pleasant aromas and a phonetic tool in religious vocabulary.
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