簪

• Noun: A hairpin or clasp.
• Verb: To secure with a pin (specifically hair or a cap); to tuck a slender object (such as a letter, tool, or flower) into a fold of clothing or a narrow gap for easy access.

The glyph functions as both noun and verb. When used as a verb, the translation depends on the object: if the object is not hair or headgear, it typically denotes "tucking" or "inserting."

Distinguish from 笄 (jī). While 笄 often refers to the simpler pins worn by unmarried women (associated with the //jī li// ceremony), 簪 is more general and specifically designates the pins used by men to secure official caps (//guān//).

Tang-period reading: *jrim.

• When the subject is a man in formal attire, the object is likely a structural fastener for headgear rather than an ornament.
• The material of the 簪 (e.g., gold, jade) frequently serves as a shorthand for the wearer's social rank or official grade according to sumptuary laws.