Definitions

to bury, to inter

Etymology phono-semantic

earth

Semantic:

About

The character 瘗 (traditional: 瘞) combines distinct components to convey burial. Its top features the "sickness" radical 疒, linking it to illness and death. Beneath this, the traditional form uses 夾 and the simplified form uses 夹, which serve as phonetic elements while also suggesting the placement of something between other objects. At the bottom, the "earth" radical 土 roots the meaning in the physical act of digging into the ground. Etymologically, the character denotes burying the dead, particularly those who died of illness, and extends to interring sacrificial offerings or objects in rituals.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern