About
The character 酲, meaning a hangover or drunkenness, is formed with the semantic component 酉, which denotes alcohol, and the phonetic component 星. Etymologically, the combination of these elements originally conveyed states related to intoxication, with early textual uses sometimes extending to the process of sobering up. Over centuries, its meaning narrowed to focus specifically on the physical discomfort following excessive drinking. The structure of the character, comprising 酉 and 星, has been consistently employed in its written form.
Etymology Hide
