About
Constructed as a phono-semantic compound, 戢 combines the right-side weapon radical 戈 (gē), representing a halberd or spear and linking the character to warfare, with the left-side phonetic component 咠 (qì). Its original meaning refers to storing away weapons, an action arising from the presence of the weapon radical. From this literal sense of disarmament, the character extended to concepts like ceasing hostilities, restraining oneself, ending an action, or even birds folding their wings, moving from a physical act to a broader notion of cessation.
Etymology Hide
