common people

氓 is composed of 亡 (die) and 民 (commoner). 亡 depicts a person fleeing or hiding in a corner, conveying the concept of running away, being displaced, or lacking status, while 民 originally represented captives, slaves, or common laborers. Thus, 氓 was formed to signify vagrants, displaced migrants, or commoners of low social status who had left their home regions.