霜

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

雨 (rain) — semantic component, indicating weather or precipitation;

相 — phonetic component, supplying the sound (상 / shuāng).

The character visually combines “rain/atmospheric moisture” with phonetic guidance to form the idea of frozen moisture — frost.

In Korean literature, 霜 often appears metaphorically.

상설 (霜雪) — frost and snow

상엽 (霜葉) — frost-covered leaves

풍상 (風霜) — hardships (literary metaphor)

백발상 (白髮如霜) — hair white like frost (poetic expression)

霜 specifically indicates frozen condensation on surfaces.

It is strongly seasonal in East Asian poetic tradition.

In metaphorical usage, it often expresses resilience through adversity.

Related characters:

雪 — snow

氷 / 冰 — ice

露 — dew

雨 — rain

In classical literature, frost symbolizes:

- the passage of time;

- old age;

- hardship and endurance;

- emotional coldness.

For example:

「白髮三千丈，緣愁似箇長」

Gray hair long as frost, born of sorrow.