cry

啼 is composed of 口 (mouth) and 帝 (emperor). 口 represents vocalization, while 帝 originally denoted a sacrificial ritual of burning firewood, extending to mean ancestor or sacred worship in general. Honoring deceased ancestors was a universal practice in ancient times across all social classes. Because the loss of loved ones naturally evokes profound grief and weeping, 啼 was formed to denote crying or wailing.