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The character "莛" is structured with the grass radical (艹) above the phonetic component "廷", denoting its association with plants and its pronunciation. Etymologically, it has referred to the stem or stalk of a plant, with classical texts using it to indicate a slender stem, as in the phrase "以莛撞钟". This botanical sense remains in modern usage, where it specifically denotes a plant's peduncle or upright stalk.
Etymology Hide
