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阕 is a phono-semantic compound: the enclosing semantic radical 门 (mén) 'door, gateway' hints at closing or shutting, while the internal phonetic component 癸 (guǐ), one of the ten heavenly stems, provides the pronunciation. The traditional form 闋 uses the full radical 門. Originally, it meant the end of a musical piece, a pause in a performance, or the completion of a song. It later evolved into a measure word for songs, lyrics, and ci poems, denoting a complete verse, stanza, or entire composition.
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