瓊

Phono-semantic compound, consisting of:

玉 — semantic component, “jade, gem, precious stone”

夐 — phonetic component (qióng)

Originally the meaning was fine, beautiful, or translucent jade, sometimes specifically reddish jade.

By extension, the character came to mean:

- splendid, elegant

- precious, beautiful

- pure, lofty (in literature)

It often appears in classical poetry in the sense of “radiant purity”.

Used mostly in names, poetic expressions, and literary vocabulary.

경성(瓊城) — city of jade; figuratively “heavenly realm” (문학적 표현)

경경(瓊瓊) — beautiful and pure

경아(瓊雅) — elegant like jade (인명용)

Classical citations:

《文選》〈張衡·思玄賦〉(Wenxuan, Anthology of Literature)

「瓊瑤為質。」

“Its substance is like pure jade and precious stones.”

《楚辭》 (Chu Ci)

「瓊枝玉樹。」

“Branches of jade and trees of precious stone” — often symbolic of purity or paradise.