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The character 柚 is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the tree radical 木 to indicate its botanical category and the phonetic component 由 to suggest its pronunciation. Etymologically, it initially referred specifically to the pomelo tree in early Chinese usage, but its meaning expanded over time to encompass the fruit produced by that tree. This semantic shift from denoting the plant itself to its edible fruit occurred while the character's compositional elements remained unchanged.
Etymology Hide
