Definitions
to lower a coffin into a grave
Etymology phono-semantic
hole
Semantic:
穴
About
The character "窆" is structurally composed of the semantic component 穴, meaning hole or cavity, and the phonetic component 乏, which historically indicated its pronunciation. Etymologically, this combination was devised to represent the act of placing a body into a grave, thus meaning to bury or inter. In classical Chinese texts, the character was employed specifically for burial contexts, and over time its usage has remained specialized within funerary terminology without broadening into other semantic areas. The form of the character, built from 穴 and 乏, has been consistent in its traditional configuration.
Etymology Hide
