About
The character 戥 (děng) is a specialized noun and verb formed by combining 星 (xīng, star) on the left with 戈 (gē, a halberd) on the right. Developed relatively late, it denotes a small steelyard, a precise scale used by merchants, apothecaries, and jewelers to weigh precious metals and medicinal herbs. The star component references the small, star-like calibration marks along the beam that guide weight measurement.