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The character 锸 is a phono-semantic compound: the left side is the metal radical 钅 (simplified from 釒), indicating a metal object, and the right side 臿 gives the pronunciation. The traditional counterpart is 鍤. Its meaning is a specific agricultural implement, a metal spade or shovel used for digging soil and managing irrigation channels. This meaning is completely literal, with no metaphorical extensions, and the character is used exclusively in contexts of farming tools or historical farming practices.
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