Definitions
boar; male pig
Etymology
About
The character 豭 (jiā) is a phonosemantic compound frequently encountered in agricultural and zoological contexts. It consists of the semantic component 豕 'pig' on the left and the phonetic component 叚 (jiǎ) on the right, and it means a male pig or boar. The radical 豕 signals that the character belongs to the domain of porcine livestock. In ancient China, accurately distinguishing the sex and reproductive status of animals was essential for both farming and sacrificial rituals, hence the need for specialized terms like 豭. The phonetic 叚, which independently carries the meanings 'to borrow' or 'false,' operates here solely as a pronunciation guide.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.