Definitions
Etymology phono-semantic
ox
About
The character 荦, associated with the traditional form 犖, is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical is 牛 (niú, cow/ox), located at the bottom. The traditional form has a complex upper part: two fire elements over a roof structure covering a bird, which was simplified in the modern character to the grass radical 艹 (cǎo) over a modified crown element ⺍. Originally, it described an ox with distinct, conspicuous spots or coat markings. This visual idea of being prominent led to its current abstract use, primarily in formal idioms, to mean something is obvious, clear, or outstandingly evident.
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