About
稔 is a phonosemantic compound: 禾 (grain, growing crops) provides the meaning, while 念 indicates the sound. The original meaning was the ripening of grain or a successful harvest season, which conceptually tied the agricultural cycle to the passage of time. From this seasonal landmark, it came to signify a full year, the duration of a complete harvest cycle. Later, the idea of full maturation over an extended period gave rise to the abstract sense of deep familiarity or thorough knowledge, as if something had ripened thoroughly over time.
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