偶

Phono-semantic compound:

人 (亻, person radical) provides the semantic component means relating to people.

禺 (yú, long-tailed monkey / phonetic element) contributes the sound.

Original sense: “a puppet figure of a person”, means effigy, partner, counterpart.

Semantic range:

- a puppet, effigy, image (꼭두각시, 偶像);

- a counterpart, companion, spouse (배우자, 配偶者);

- by extension: to pair, to match (짝을 이루다);

- chance, coincidence (우연히, 偶然);

- rival, opposite number (라이벌).

偶像 (우상) — idol, image, icon

配偶者 (배우자) — spouse, partner

偶然 (우연) — by chance, accidentally

對偶 (대우) — parallelism, symmetry

偶數 (우수) — even number

In Confucian writings, 偶 is often used in the sense of pairing or companionship, reflecting the relational aspect of human life.

In Buddhist texts, 偶像 (idols, effigies) is used for religious images, often in discussions of worship.

In Daoist thought, 偶 may appear in contexts of duality and pairing (yin-yang, cosmic partners).

In modern East Asia, 偶像 is the standard term for “idol” in popular culture (K-pop/J-pop idols).