霧

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

雨 (rain) — semantic component, indicates a weather-related phenomenon

務 (to work hard; task) — phonetic component, supplies the pronunciation (mu / wù)

In early usage, 霧 referred specifically to dense atmospheric vapor near the ground, distinct from clouds (雲) or rain (雨).

The character thus literally represents a weather phenomenon formed from moisture, emphasizing heaviness and obscuration rather than precipitation.

Through metaphorical extension, it came to represent confusion, obscurity, and concealment, especially in literary and idiomatic usage.

Semantic development:

original — atmospheric fog

extended — reduced visibility

metaphorical — confusion, obscurity

literary — concealment, illusion

This progression — "physical obscurity → mental obscurity" is a classic semantic shift in East Asian languages.

霧 is very productive in weather terminology, especially in scientific Korean.

Common & standard compounds:

霧氣 (무기) — fog; mist

濃霧 (농무) — dense fog

薄霧 (박무) — light fog; thin mist

霧霾 (무매) — smog (fog + haze)

霧中 (무중) — in the fog; amid obscurity

Meteorological / scientific terms:

霧雨 (무우) — drizzle; misty rain

霧滴 (무적) — fog droplets

放射霧 (방사무) — radiation fog

移流霧 (이류무) — advection fog

蒸發霧 (증발무) — evaporation fog

Figurative / literary usage:

霧散 (무산) — to disperse like fog; vanish

霧迷 (무미) — confusion; being lost in a fog

霧影 (무영) — misty shadow; vague outline

霧想 (무상) — hazy thoughts; illusionary thinking

Related characters:

雲 — cloud

露 — dew

煙 — smoke

霾 — haze, smog