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A phono-semantic compound, 琥 combines the left semantic radical 王 (jade) with the right phonetic component 虎 (tiger), which also provides the pronunciation. Historically, it denoted a tiger-shaped jade ritual object used in military or ceremonial contexts. Today, it appears almost exclusively in the compound 琥珀, meaning amber, the fossilized resin valued for its color and beauty. This evolution marks a clear shift from its original, specific jade artifact meaning to its modern lexical role.
Etymology Hide
