About
The character 洌 uses the water radical 氵 on the left to anchor its meaning in the domain of liquids and water. The component 列 on the right, while meaning "to arrange", functions here as the phonetic element. Etymologically, 洌 describes the physical qualities of water, specifically its extreme coldness and visual clarity. It often appears in literary contexts to evoke pristine springs, icy streams, or the bracing cold associated with clear water.
Etymology Hide
