Definitions
"right open box" radical (Kangxi radical 22), occurring in 区, 医, 匹 etc
Etymology
Pictograph of a container.
About
The character 匚 functions primarily as a radical in Chinese, originating as a pictogram of an open box, square receptacle, or basket used to hold objects. Its structure visually resembles a container with an open side, and it serves as the semantic component for characters related to boxes, chests, or items that conceal or store things. As an independent character, it is seldom used in modern text, yet it holds structural importance in character dictionaries, organizing words that share the concept of containment. This form maintains a consistent meaning throughout the script's development, acting as a functional building block for complex semantic concepts involving physical storage.
Etymology Hide
