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霾 denotes suspended dust, smog, or heavy haze. It is a phono-semantic compound with the rain radical 雨 on top, classifying it as a meteorological phenomenon. The lower part, 貍, provides the phonetic element. Originally, the term described windblown dust or soil obscuring the sky, a dry atmospheric event distinct from fog or rain. Its meaning has since broadened to include modern industrial smog and air pollution, extending the core concept of atmospheric obscuration to contemporary contexts.
Etymology Hide
