脹

Phono-semantic compound:

肉 (또는 月) — semantic component, indicating flesh/body.

長 (긴 장) — phonetic component, contributing the sound (zhàng / 창) and also the idea of lengthening, expanding.

Thus 脹 originally describes the stretching or swelling of flesh or soft material.

Semantic development:

Bodily swelling:

- swelling from injury, inflammation, or heat

- a medical term for distension

Physical expansion of objects:

- swelling of bags, cloth, containers, skins

- mechanical expansion

Figurative expansion:

- inflation of anger, arrogance, or emotion

- enlargement in population, wealth, or area

Technical compound usage:

- often paired with 膨 in the modern term 膨脹 (expansion/swelling)

Medical / physical swelling:

脹氣(창기); 장내 가스가 차서 배가 부품 — “abdominal bloating; gas distension.”

腹脹(복창); 배가 부어오름 — “abdominal swelling.”

腫脹(종창); 부기; 염증으로 몸이 붓는 현상 — “swelling caused by inflammation; edema.”

脹大(창대); 크게 부풀어 오름 — “to swell greatly; to become distended.”

Expansion / inflation (non-medical):

膨脹(팽창); 부풀어 커지다, 확대되다 — “to expand; to swell; to grow.”

氣脹(기창); 기체가 팽창함 — “gas expansion.”

Figurative / emotional usage:

憤脹(분창); 분노가 가득 부풀다 — “to swell with anger.”

自脹(자창); 자만심이 부풀다 — “inflation of pride; arrogance swelling up.”

Though less common in Korean, these compounds appear in classical Korean translations of Chinese texts.