About
蚨 is a phono-semantic compound, with the semantic insect radical 虫 on the left and the phonetic component 夫 on the right. The radical indicates its biological classification, as the character originally referred to a specific water beetle called the 青蚨. In Chinese folklore, the blood of this insect was believed to have magical properties: coins smeared with it would always return to their owner. This legend led the character to become a literary term for money or currency.
Etymology Hide
