橹 (lǔ) — a sculling oar mounted at the stern of a boat, operated with a twisting motion
Definition
A sculling oar mounted at the stern of a traditional Chinese boat, swept side-to-side (not rowed) to propel the vessel. Now mostly seen in literary or historical contexts.
noun
a sculling oar mounted at the stern of a boat, operated with a twisting motion
Measure word · 把
Easily confused
- 撸lūlook-aliketo rub one's palm along (something); to roll up (sleeves)
- 鲁lǔsound-alikerash; blunt
- 噜lūlook-alike(onomatopoeic element) used in 呼噜 (snore) and 咕噜 (rumble, gurgle)
- 掳lǔsound-alike(bound form) to capture (by force), to take prisoner
- 卤lǔsound-aliketo stew in soy sauce and spices (a Chinese cooking method)
- 虏lǔsound-alike(noun) captive, prisoner of war
Examples
- 橹，。Chuán fū yáo lǔ, xiǎo chuán màn màn xiàng qián yí dòng.The boatman sculled, and the small boat slowly moved forward.
- 橹。Gǔ lǎo de mù chuán shàng yǒu yì zhī cháng cháng de lǔ.There was a long sculling oar on the ancient wooden boat.
- 橹，。Tā yòng lì yáo lǔ, chuán biàn kuài sù qián jìn.He sculled hard, and the boat sped forward.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 櫓; 橹 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
魯
魯lǔ櫓lǔ
Same sound today
The traditional form 櫓 pairs 木, a tree, with 魯 for its sound; the simplified 橹 is a shortened form.
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