About
As a phono-semantic compound, 哜 combines the left-side radical 口 (mouth), which indicates its connection to oral actions like eating or drinking, with the right-side component 齐, which provides its pronunciation. In its traditional form 嚌, the same mouth radical is paired with the more complex phonetic component 齊. The character's core meaning is to sip, taste, or take a small bite. It frequently appears in classical texts to describe delicate or measured eating, often suggesting polite restraint, or to depict birds pecking at their food.
Etymology Hide
