About
A phono-semantic compound, 坳 combines the semantic radical 土 (earth) on the left with the phonetic component 幼 on the right, which provides the pronunciation. It denotes a low-lying area, such as a depression or hollow between hills. While 幼 means "young" independently, here its function is purely phonetic, not semantic. The character is used in geographic contexts to describe specific landforms.
Etymology Hide
