虜

It is a phono-semantic compound, composed of:

毌 (“to string together”) + 力 (“strength, power”) as the semantic elements, suggesting physical capture by force;

虍 (ho, “tiger stripes”) as the phonetic element.

Together, the character conveys the image of seizing or subduing by force, leading to its meaning of captives and those taken in war.

In modern Korean, 로 (虜) is used in compounds associated with captivity, conquest, or prisoners:

포로 (捕虜) – prisoner of war, captive

사로잡다 (虜) – to capture, to enthrall

노예 (奴隸, but related semantic field) – slave

노획 (虜獲) – seizure, capture

The older connotation of “barbarian” is largely obsolete in modern Korean but remains visible in historical or classical texts.