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The character "趄" has a traditional form identical to its simplified counterpart, structured with the semantic component "走", indicating movement, combined with the phonetic component "且". Its original meaning was to hesitate or to walk with difficulty, which is preserved in the classical compound "趑趄" (zī jū). Over time, the character's primary standalone meaning shifted to denote a slanting or inclined position, often describing something not upright or level, while its earlier sense of hesitant movement became largely restricted to literary usage within that specific compound.
Etymology Hide
