About
The character "粕" is structurally composed of the semantic component 米, denoting grain, combined with 白, which likely functioned phonetically in its formation. Its etymology points to an original meaning focused on the solid residues left after processing grains, such as the lees from wine fermentation or the dregs from oil extraction. Over centuries, its application expanded beyond specific agricultural byproducts to a more general term for worthless remnants, evident in its use within the compound 糟粕 to denote any discarded or inferior matter.
Etymology Hide
