隘
ài
#3,146 most
frequent character
(bound form) narrow, (bound form) a defile
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
隘 has ⻖, hills or land, as its meaning part, and 益 yì for sound. It first meant 'a valley between mountains,' then grew to 'strategic mountain pass' and 'narrow; confined.' The sound link with 益 is loose.
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