Definitions
used in 佝僂|佝偻[gōu lóu]; Taiwan pr. [kòu]
used in 佝瞀[kòu mào]
Etymology
About
The character "佝" is structured with the person radical "亻" on the left and the component "句" on the right, where "句" functions phonetically and semantically by suggesting a hooked or bent form. This construction etymologically signifies a person with a curved back, a meaning consistently observed in classical Chinese usage. The character has primarily denoted a stooped or hunched posture, and its application remains most common in the compound "佝偻" to describe spinal curvature. While its form has seen no substantial alteration in standard orthography, the semantic range of "佝" has stayed narrowly focused on physical deformity without broadening significantly.
Etymology Hide
