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髹 combines the radical 髟 (hair) with the phonetic 休 (xiū), reflecting early artisanal practices. The hair component hints at brushes made from animal or human hair to apply liquids, a key technique in traditional lacquerwork. It originally designated coating objects with red or black lacquer, a prized craft in historical East Asia, and over time came to function as both a verb for applying lacquer and a noun for the lacquered surface itself, especially in woodworking and decorative arts.
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