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The traditional character 鱔 is composed of the semantic component 魚 (fish) and the phonetic component 善 (shàn). This structure classifies the creature as a type of fish, while the phonetic component suggests its pronunciation. Historically, the term referred broadly to eel-like aquatic animals, but its application narrowed over time to specify the Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus), a freshwater species. The simplified form 鳝 retains the same semantic-phonetic construction, merely streamlining the 魚 component.