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薨 is a historical term denoting the death of high-ranking nobles, such as feudal lords, princes, and esteemed officials below the emperor. Structurally, it consists of the grass radical 艹 atop components that end in 死 ('death'), explicitly tying it to mortality. Historically, this death-related meaning was paired with a phonetic element giving the sound hōng. In addition, 薨 has an onomatopoeic sense: the loud, humming buzz made by a dense swarm of insects. This juxtaposition makes the character a rare example encapsulating both a rigid social hierarchy's death vocabulary and a raw natural sound.
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