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The character 蜃 is a phono-semantic compound, with the radical 虫 at the bottom indicating its semantic category as an animal, specifically a marine creature. The upper component 辰 (chén) provides the phonetic element. Historically, 蜃 referred to a large mythical clam or bivalve that, in Chinese folklore, was believed to exhale breath forming illusory cities or landscapes over the sea. This legend gave rise to the modern term "海市蜃楼" (hǎishìshènlóu), meaning "mirage".
Etymology Hide
