About
The character 貂 is a phono-semantic compound created to denote the marten, sable, and their prized fur. Its left component, the semantic radical 豸, categorizes various beasts, predatory animals, and long-backed or crawling mammals. The right component, 召, serves solely as a phonetic indicator for the sound diāo, contributing no semantic meaning about the animal. Due to the historical and economic significance of sable pelts as luxury winter clothing and aristocratic status symbols, the character frequently appears in literature and historical texts alongside references to wealth, official headwear, and elite fur garments.
Etymology Hide
