About
The character 搡 is a phono-semantic compound, built from the hand radical 扌 on the left and the phonetic 桑 (sāng, 'mulberry tree') on the right. The radical categorizes the character as an action performed with the hands, while the phonetic contributes the sound without adding semantic content. The meaning is to push or shove forcefully, usually with a sudden, rough motion intended to move an object or person out of the way. It implies a decided lack of gentleness and is commonly used in narrative passages that describe physical altercations or the jostling that occurs in crowded situations.
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