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The character 剞 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component is 刀 (dāo) 'knife', written as the standing knife radical 刂 on the right, and the phonetic component is 奇 (jī), which indicates the pronunciation. The original meaning is a specific type of curved carving knife or gouge used in woodworking and engraving. Throughout its history, 剞 appears most prominently in the compound 剞劂 (jījué), referring to the tools of block printing and wood carving, and by extension, the art of publication, linking the character firmly to traditional craftsmanship.
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