About
The character "鞣" is a phono-semantic compound formed by the semantic component 革, meaning leather, and the component 柔, which indicates both pronunciation and the conceptual attribute of softness, directly reflecting its etymological link to the tanning process that transforms stiff hides into supple leather. Its structure has consistently featured these elements, and while the character's core meaning has always been associated with tanning, its application has expanded in modern usage to include related chemical terms such as "鞣酸" for tannic acid.
Etymology Hide
