About
The character 襦 is a phono-semantic compound that combines the clothing radical 衤 (semantic) with the phonetic 需. This composition anchors it in the semantic field of garments and textiles. Etymologically, it designates a short upper garment, a coat, jacket, or shirt, cut to end at the waist. In historical China, this piece was a staple of everyday dress, routinely worn with a longer skirt. Such pairings are well documented in classical literature, and the waist-length design distinguishes it from longer robes or cloaks that extended to the ankles.
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