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The character 侩 (kuài), traditional 儈, is a phono-semantic compound. Its left component, the semantic radical 亻 (rén), indicates a human role or activity. The right component, 会 (huì) / 會, provides the phonetic element while also suggesting the semantic nuance of bringing parties together. It primarily means a middleman or broker who facilitates transactions. Over time, the term acquired a derogatory sense, implying an unscrupulous trader or profiteer, as in 市侩 (shìkuài).
Etymology Hide
