Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 𦰩 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "type of bird". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
難 and 𦰩 don't sound similar in modern Mandarin due to historical phonetic changes. They were more similar
in older Chinese.
Character Evolution
BronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeSpring and Autumn771-476 BCBronzeLate Warring States~250 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADClericalQin221-206 BCRegularModern