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魃 is a phono-semantic compound referring to a mythological drought demon, a malicious spirit believed to cause severe dry spells and ruin crops. The left side is the radical 鬼 (guǐ) 'ghost, demon', placing it among supernatural beings, while the right side 犮 (bá) is the phonetic. In early mythological texts, this entity was often personified as a bald, destructive figure bringing intense heat, and specific rituals were performed to expel it and ensure agricultural survival. The combination creates a specialized noun for this meteorological and mythological phenomenon in agricultural communities.
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