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The Chinese characters 茑 (simplified) and 蔦 (traditional) are phono-semantic compounds: they pair the grass radical 艹, sitting on top, with the phonetic element 鸟 (simplified) or 鳥 (traditional) below. The radical 艹 points to a plant meaning, so the character denotes climbing plants, vines and woody creepers, that cling to trees, walls, and other supports. In classical Chinese poetry and literature, these plants are often used as metaphors for dependence, attachment, and intertwined relationships.
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