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The character 麒 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 鹿, meaning "deer", with the phonetic component 其, which provides its pronunciation. The deer radical suggests the creature's physical traits and classifies it among hoofed animals. 麒 specifically denotes the male of the Qilin, a mythical Chinese beast often depicted with a deer's body, an ox's tail, and a single horn. Though the Qilin is a legendary symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and the arrival of a wise ruler, the character's structure ties it to real-world animal taxonomy.
Etymology Hide
