to swell
胮 centers on swelling, specifically the physical expansion or puffiness of body tissue.
胮 combines the flesh radical ⺼ with 夅, which likely contributes the sound ホウ. The exact historical development of 夅 is uncertain, but the character is used to express swelling of the body.
The flesh radical ⺼ on the left indicates a body part, and the right side 夅 looks like something descending or pressing down. Imagine a body part swelling up against pressure, like a puffy bruise.
For ホウ, picture a swollen body part being treated with a hot compress: the sound of blowing air to cool it down, 'hoo', cues ホウ.
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