Definitions

póu to gather, to collect, to assemble; to praise

Etymology phono-semantic

cloth

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character "裒" structurally combines the "衣" radical, associated with clothing, with internal components derived from "臼" and "又", suggesting actions related to handling or assembling materials. Etymologically, it initially carried the meaning of "to gather" or "to collect", as documented in early literary usage. Over time, its semantic range expanded to include the sense of "to reduce" or "to take from", evident in classical constructs such as "裒多益寡", where it denotes transferring from abundance to scarcity. The character's form in its traditional iteration consistently integrates these components, aligning with its historical meanings of collection and redistribution.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern