About
The traditional character 櫂, composed of the semantic component 木 (wood) and the phonetic component 翟, originally referred specifically to a wooden oar or paddle. A common variant form, 棹, existed historically and eventually became the standard simplified form. Its core meaning as a noun for a rowing implement remained consistent, but it also developed a verbal meaning, "to row a boat". From this core function, the character’s usage expanded to serve as a somewhat literary metonym for the boat itself or for the act of boating.