About
The character 貅 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 豸 (beast) denotes its animal category, while 休 provides its sound. Historically, 貅 is seldom used alone, appearing almost exclusively in the binome 貔貅 (píxiū). This term refers to a mythical, winged lion of folklore, an auspicious creature believed to attract wealth and ward off evil. The structure clearly classifies it as a beast through its radical, with its specific identity defined entirely within this paired term, illustrating its focused linguistic role.