瘙 (sào) — itch (bound form; used in 瘙痒)

Definition

Bound morph meaning 'itch', almost always paired with 痒 as the set term 瘙痒 (sàoyǎng, 'itching'). On its own it is not used as a standalone word.

bound form

itch (bound form; used in 瘙痒)

Easily confused

瘙。
Pí fū bìng ràng wǒ hún shēn sào yǎng.
The skin disease made me itch all over.
瘙。
Zhè zhǒng yào gāo néng huǎn jiě sào yǎng.
This ointment can relieve itching.
瘙，。
Tā de jiè chuāng yǐn qǐ jù liè sào yǎng, xū yào zhì liáo.
His scabies causes severe itching and needs treatment.

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

疒蚤瘙

Meaning part形符xíngfú

疒疒nè

Sound part声符shēngfú

蚤

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 瘙 is formed from 疒 as the meaning part and 蚤 as the sound part.