About
The character 碇 is a phono-semantic compound that combines the semantic radical 石 "stone" with the phonetic component 定, which itself suggests stability or fixing something in place. Reflecting ancient maritime practice, it originally denoted a heavy stone tied to a rope that sailors would drop into the water to secure a vessel and prevent drifting. As nautical technology advanced and forged iron and steel devices replaced these stones, the character retained its meaning of "anchor", no longer tied to the material. Its semantic focus shifted from the literal stone object to the function of anchoring, and 碇 now serves as the dedicated term for a ship's anchor.
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