Definitions

Bletilla hyacinthina (mucilaginous); Acronym for the Chinese Elder tree 菫草

Etymology phono-semantic

plant

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "芨" is structured with the grass radical (艹) positioned above the component "及", a formation that links it semantically to plants while the phonetic element guides its reading. Its etymology traces to early Chinese botanical terminology, where it served primarily to denote specific flora, most enduringly in the compound "白芨" for a medicinal orchid. The meaning of "芨" has not significantly diverged from this original plant-based reference, and its structural composition has persisted without alteration in standard usage.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern