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The character "鸱", simplified from the traditional form "鴟", is structured with the semantic component "鸟" meaning bird and the phonetic component "氐". It originally denoted birds of prey such as owls or kites in early Chinese texts, and its meaning later narrowed to specific uses, including "鸱鸮" for owls and "鸱吻" for a dragon-headed architectural element. The character's composition consistently links it to avian concepts through its radical, while the phonetic element reflects its historical pronunciation.
Etymology Hide
