small-minded, dirty

齷 is composed of 齒 (teeth) and 屋 (house). 齒 represents teeth, which are tightly arranged row by row, while 屋 refers to an enclosed space that traps or confines people inside. Because both components convey a sense of tightness and crowded restriction, 齷 was created to denote being narrow, cramped, or confined. Furthermore, dirty or confined places naturally evoke feelings of filth, leading 齷 to extend to mean dirty, sordid, or narrow-minded.