About
The character 偻 (traditional: 僂) is a phono-semantic compound with the human radical 亻 on the left, indicating its association with human conditions, and the phonetic component 娄 on the right, which guides its pronunciation. Its core meaning describes a hunched or bent back, often from age or illness. This physical sense later extended metaphorically to denote obsequious or fawning behavior, as if one figuratively bows to flatter authority.
Etymology Hide
