僵

stiff

僵 is composed of the radical 人 (person) and 畺 (numerous). 畺 originally means the boundary between fields; field boundaries are fixed and unbending, which extends to the meaning of firmness. Therefore, 僵 conveys the idea of a human body that has hardened with joints that no longer move freely.

Vocabulary of 僵

  • 僵化 (become rigid)
  • 僵持 (be deadlocked)
  • 僵局 (impasse)

Related Characters: