About
The character 衄 is a phono-semantic compound, with the blood radical 血 on the left providing the semantic category of bleeding or bodily fluids, and the component 丑 on the right serving as the phonetic marker. Its original meaning is a nosebleed. Over time, it developed a figurative sense in military or competitive contexts, coming to signify a defeat, setback, or the thwarting of momentum.
Etymology Hide
