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As a phono-semantic compound, 唳 features the radical 口 (kǒu, mouth) on the left, indicating its meaning relates to sounds or vocalizations. The component 戾 (lì) on the right provides the phonetic element. The character specifically denotes the clear, resonant cry of cranes, herons, or similar long-necked birds. This imagery is often used in classical literature to evoke autumnal melancholy or desolate landscapes, as seen in the idiom 风声鹤唳 (fēng shēng hè lì), which describes a defeated army in panic, mistaking the wind and crane calls for enemy troops.
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