酊

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

酉 (닭 유) — semantic component, indicating relation to alcohol or fermentation.

丁 (고무래 / 장정 정) — phonetic component, giving the pronunciation jeong (Middle Chinese têng, Old Chinese tˤeŋʔ).

Thus, 酊 literally means “to be affected by wine.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「酊，酒傷也。从酉，丁聲。」

“酊 means harm or effect caused by wine; composed of 酉 (‘wine’) and 丁 (‘phonetic’).”

This explanation confirms that the character originally denoted the physical or mental disturbance brought about by drinking.

酩酊 (명정) — heavy intoxication, drunken stupor (酩 and 酊 both mean “drunk”)

酊醉 (정취) — to be drunk, to drink to intoxication

半酊 (반정) — half drunk; mildly intoxicated

酊然 (정연) — in a drunken state

In Chinese literary tradition, 酊 often evokes the tension between indulgence and self-restraint — a moment of losing one’s rational composure to emotion or passion.

It can appear in both moralistic writings (as a warning against excess) and in Tang–Song poetry, where wine symbolizes spontaneity and emotional release.

酊 denotes a lighter or initial degree of intoxication compared to 醉, and often appears in compounds like 酩酊 (“drunken stupor”).

Beyond its literal sense, 酊 symbolizes the poetic and emotional state of being slightly detached from worldly restraint — intoxicated by wine, beauty, or inspiration.