Origin

This character combines two components to convey the idea of theft and wrongdoing. The left part, 貝, represents valuables or shells (historically used as currency in China), showing what thieves target. The right part, 戎, relates to weapons or conflict. Together, these components suggest someone who uses force or weapons to steal valuables—essentially capturing the notion of a violent criminal or robber. Over time, the meaning expanded to include rebels and traitors, anyone who acts against society's rules through force or deception.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).