About
跖 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 足 (zú, foot) with the phonetic component 石 (shí, stone). Its primary meaning is anatomical, denoting the sole of the foot or the metatarsal region. The foot radical directly establishes this semantic category. Beyond medical terminology, 跖 frequently appears in classical texts as a proper noun in 盗跖 (Dào Zhí), the name of a legendary rebel figure. This usage accounts for many of its occurrences in philosophical literature, often independent of its anatomical sense.
Etymology Hide
