Definitions

cuó lofty (as of mountain)

Etymology phono-semantic

mountain

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound combining the mountain radical on the left and the phonetic (meaning difference or discrepancy) on the right. The radical firmly places the character in the realm of topography, denoting rugged, jagged mountain peaks and steep rises. It is almost always encountered in the binomial 嵯峨, which heightens the depiction of towering, irregular rocky landscapes. The phonetic not only supplies the sound but also visually and conceptually echoes the unevenness of such terrain, reinforcing the craggy imagery.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern