(lóu) — surname Lou; one of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy

Definition

Almost always appears as the surname Lou or as 娄宿, one of the 28 lunar mansions in traditional Chinese astronomy. As a bound form it is rarely used alone.

bound form
surname Louone of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy

Examples

  • lóu Xiān sheng shì wǒ men de xīn lǎo shī.
    Mr. Lou is our new teacher.
  • lóu Zhè ge xìng zài zhōng guó bú tài cháng jiàn.
    The surname Lou is not very common in China.
  • lóu Sù shì gǔ dài tiān wén xué zhōng de zhòng yào xīng xiù.
    The Lou mansion is an important constellation in ancient astronomy.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 婁; 娄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
zhuǎhands
woman
Sound part声符shēngfú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 婁 has 爪 (hands) and 女 (woman), with 角 used for the sound; its original meaning is uncertain. 娄 is a simplified form.

Appears in

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