Definitions

háo trench

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound combining the water radical and the phonetic . It originally denoted a water-filled moat or trench surrounding a city wall for defense, contrasting with the etymologically related , which refers to a dry ditch. The character also appears in the name of the Hao River in Anhui province, known from classical philosophical texts featuring Zhuangzi.