Definitions

huá plowshare; spade

Etymology phono-semantic

metal

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character , the simplified form of , is a phono-semantic compound: the radical (metal) supplies the meaning of a metallic object, while (huá) gives the sound. It refers primarily to a plowshare, the cutting blade of a plow that slices through soil during tilling, and can also denote spades or other metal digging tools used in traditional farming and earth-moving. As a term for physical implements, it appears predominantly in texts covering agricultural methods, rural life, and the history of metal farming tools developed to cultivate land and boost yields.