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铗 (traditional: 鋏) is a phono-semantic compound combining the metal radical 钅 and the phonetic component 夹 (jiā). The 钅 radical indicates something made of metal, while 夹 supplies the pronunciation and suggests pressing or grasping from both sides. Historically, the character denoted metal gripping tools such as tongs, pincers, and pliers, often used in metallurgy or when handling fire. In classical literature, it acquired a secondary meaning: the hilt of a sword (the part one grasps) and, by extension, the sword itself.
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