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柑 is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 木 is the "tree" radical, classifying it as a woody plant, while the right component 甘 (gān) means "sweet" and serves as both the phonetic and a semantic hint at the fruit's sweetness. The character names the mandarin orange (tangerine), a citrus fruit prized for being sweeter and easier to peel than other oranges, and it appears often in agricultural contexts.
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