About
The character "龉" derives from its traditional form "齬", which is structured with the semantic component "齒" meaning tooth and the phonetic component "吾". This construction initially referred to teeth that are misaligned or do not fit together properly, conveying a literal sense of physical incongruity. Over time, this meaning extended metaphorically to represent any form of disagreement or lack of harmony, as evidenced by its enduring use in the compound term "龃龉". The simplified form "龉" modifies this structure by substituting the traditional radical "齒" with its simplified counterpart "齿", while the phonetic element "吾" continues to provide the sound cue.
Etymology Hide
