About
The character 宄 is a phono-semantic compound, with the radical 宀 (roof) providing its semantic category and the component 九 underneath supplying its phonetic value. It originally meant a traitor or malefactor, someone who commits wicked or treasonous acts from within a state or organization. This character often combines with others denoting crime or deceit to form compounds describing internal sabotage, hidden dangers, or covert threats to stability. The roof radical implies plotting or wrongdoing carried out within internal boundaries, as opposed to open conflict.
Etymology Hide
