About
The character "掖" is structured as a phono-semantic compound combining the hand radical 扌 with the phonetic component 夜, inherently linking it to actions performed with the hand. Its earliest recorded meanings centered on the armpit as a noun and the verb sense of leading or supporting someone by the arm, reflecting a direct physical association. From this core, the verbal usage expanded to denote general assistance or bolstering, eventually evolving to describe the act of tucking or concealing an object within clothing, a natural extension of the motion used to secure items under the arm. This progression from a specific bodily reference to broader concepts of hiding or stowing illustrates a gradual semantic shift while the character's form has maintained its consistent compositional elements.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
她小心地掖了掖被角。
他把文件掖在书本下面。
我掖好衬衫准备出门。
孩子掖着玩具不肯放手。
他藏掖着一些秘密。
为了保暖，他把裤脚掖进袜子里。
掖县是山东的一个地方。
在历史中，掖庭是皇宫的一部分。