About
As a phono-semantic compound, 茇 uses the semantic radical 艹 (grass/vegetation) and the phonetic component 犮 for its pronunciation. Etymologically, it primarily denoted the roots of grasses and herbaceous plants. It also came to mean a simple, makeshift thatched hut or shelter, often used by travelers, constructed from grass and weeds. Both meanings connect to the grass radical, relating to either plant anatomy or rudimentary architecture using vegetative materials.
Etymology Hide
