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稗 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 禾 (hé), meaning "grain", and the phonetic component 卑 (bēi), signifying "low" or "inferior". Literally, the character denotes barnyard grass, a tenacious weed that invades rice paddies, closely mimicking the cultivated crop while robbing the soil of nutrients. Because the plant is essentially a false or inferior version of grain, the meaning of 稗 extended metaphorically to describe anything trivial or unofficial. This figurative usage is central to expressions like "稗官野史" (bàiguān yěshǐ), which refers to unofficial histories and folklore compiled by minor officials, standing in contrast to formally sanctioned dynastic records.
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