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The character 褛 is the simplified form of 褸. The traditional 褸 is a phonosemantic compound: the radical 衤, derived from 衣 (yī, 'clothing'), sets the semantic category of garments and textiles, while the component 婁 (lóu) indicates the pronunciation. The simplified form replaces 婁 with 娄. This character conveys the meaning of ragged, tattered, or torn clothing, garments that are worn out or in disrepair. It is very rarely found on its own; instead, it occurs almost exclusively in the compound 褴褛 (lánlǚ), which describes shabby, threadbare attire typical of impoverished conditions. The pairing of form and sound thus creates a vivid image of deteriorated fabric.
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