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A phono-semantic compound, 衿 combines the clothing radical 衤 on the left with the phonetic component 今 (pronounced "jin") on the right, indicating a garment. Originally it denoted the collar or lapel of a traditional robe, the intersecting front panels of ancient clothing. Over time, the meaning extended metaphorically to the scholars and educated class who wore such collared attire, giving rise to compound words for students and local literati within the imperial examination system.
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