About
The character "莩" is structured with the grass radical atop the component "孚", which functions phonetically, and its earliest recorded meaning denoted the thin inner membrane of bamboo or similar plants. This botanical reference later extended to encompass the husk of grains, and through semantic association, the character came to signify famine or starvation, particularly in the classical compound "莩殍" where it parallels the meaning of "殍" for those who perish from hunger. The shift from a specific plant part to a term indicating widespread deprivation marks the principal change in its usage, while its graphical composition has not altered.
Etymology Hide
