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The simplified character 髌 combines the bone radical 骨 on the left, indicating a relationship to the skeletal system, and the phonetic 宾 on the right, a simplification of the traditional 賓 which gave the character its pronunciation. It primarily designates the patella (kneecap) as an anatomical term. In historical contexts, it also referred to bin punishment, a severe corporal penalty that involved removing or mutilating the kneecaps; modern usage, however, strictly limits it to the literal anatomical bone.
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