About
The character 姘 is a phono-semantic compound. The left-side semantic radical 女 ("woman") indicates its connection to women or gendered social relationships. The right-side component is 幷 in traditional form (简化为 并), which serves as the phonetic element. The primary meaning refers to illicit or socially disapproved sexual relationships, particularly cohabitation or affairs outside of formal marriage. It is most often used in compounds to denote a paramour or secret lover, carrying a derogatory connotation in relation to traditional norms of marriage and fidelity.
Etymology Hide
