Definitions
careless
Etymology
About
The character 跅, made up of the foot radical 𧾷 and the phonetic 斥, originally refers to an irregular, sloppy, or unrestrained manner of walking. Through semantic extension, it comes to describe a person who is careless, unrestrained, and morally lax, i.e., lacking behavioral discipline. The radical 𧾷 securely links the character to locomotion and the mechanics of walking, while 斥 dictates its pronunciation. This shift from a physical irregularity in stride to a metaphor for undisciplined conduct exemplifies a recurring motif in classical texts, where gait often mirrors character.
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