Definitions
to lower a coffin into a grave
Etymology phono-semantic
hole
Semantic:
穴
About
The character 窆 (biǎn) is an archaic phono-semantic compound denoting the solemn act of lowering a coffin into a grave. Its semantic radical 穴 (xué), meaning "cave" or "pit", provides the contextual setting of an excavated burial site, while the phonetic component 乏 (fá) contributes the sound without influencing the meaning. Historically reserved for formal elegies, historical records, and classical poetry, 窆 specifically highlights the physical interment rather than general mourning. In modern Chinese, it is largely obsolete, appearing only in academic or literary discussions of ancient funerary practices.
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