About
The character "妍" is structured as a phono-semantic compound with the radical 女, which associates it with femininity, and the component 幵, which historically functioned as a phonetic element. Its early semantic range included connotations of skill and artfulness, but over time the meaning narrowed to specifically denote beauty, particularly in reference to women. The character's written form has consistently incorporated these two components without substantial modification, reflecting its etymological origins while accommodating the shift in meaning.
Etymology Hide
