About
The character 襦 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic clothing radical 衤 on the left with the phonetic component 需 on the right. The radical 衤 clearly places it within the category of garments. Etymologically, 襦 refers to a short upper garment, such as a jacket or shirt, which was a staple in historical Chinese clothing. This garment typically ended at the waist and was often worn with a longer skirt, forming a traditional ensemble distinct from full-length robes.
Etymology Hide
