About
The character 簟 is a phono-semantic compound describing a finely woven bamboo mat, used for sleeping or sitting in hot weather for its cooling effect. Its upper component is the bamboo radical ⺮, indicating the primary material. The lower component is the phonetic element 覃 (tán), which provides the pronunciation despite modern differences. Historically, the character referred to various types of woven bamboo floor coverings and sleeping mats, with the upper radical defining the object's material nature.
Etymology Hide
