疏

Phono-semantic compound:

疋 (짝 필, “foot, unit”) — semantic component, associated with “arrangement, alignment, movement.”

㐬 (깃발 류, phonetic) — provides sound.

Originally denoting separation or scattering, later extended to mean “unimpeded passage,” and by metaphor “communication.”

疏通 (소통) — to communicate, to clear, to dredge

疏遠 (소원) — estranged, distant

疏散 (소산) — to scatter, disperse

疏忽 (소홀) — negligence, carelessness

疏落 (소락) — sparse, scattered

疎 is an older or variant form, often interchangeable.

Usage differs by region:

Japan: only 疎 is standardized as a common-use character; 疏 is replaced.

China: only 疏 is standardized in the Table of General Standard Chinese Characters (通用规范汉字表); 疎 is treated as variant.

Korea: both appear, but convention distinguishes them by context (疏通 vs. 疎遠).