About
The character "铤", whose traditional form is "鋌", is a phonosemantic compound comprising the metal radical, represented as 金 in traditional and 钅 in simplified form, combined with the phonetic component "廷". Etymologically, it initially denoted unprocessed metal or ingots, and later extended to refer to specific metal objects like arrowheads in classical texts. Its semantic range shifted over centuries, and in contemporary usage, the character is primarily found in the idiom "铤而走险", where it functions to convey the notion of rash action or taking a risk under pressure, reflecting a move from a concrete referent to an abstract adverbial sense.
Etymology Hide
