About
The character 蹇 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 足 (foot) at the bottom indicates the meaning relates to walking or feet, while 寒 on top suggests the pronunciation. Its primary sense is lameness or a crippled foot, directly reflecting the foot radical. From this physical impediment, the meaning broadened to include hardship, difficulty, misfortune, and obstacles in one's path. Additionally, 蹇 can be used to describe someone haughty or stubborn, and to indicate hesitation or lack of fluency in speech.
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