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腊 (là) — 12th lunar month (used in 腊月); cured or preserved (used in 腊肉, 腊鱼 etc.)

Definition

腊 (là) is a bound form meaning the 12th lunar month (腊月, the coldest month) and meat/fish cured in that season (腊肉, 腊鱼). It almost always appears as part of a compound, never alone.

bound form
12th lunar month (used in 腊月)cured or preserved (used in 腊肉, 腊鱼 etc.)

Examples

  • 。
    là Yuè shì yì nián zhōng zuì lěng de yuè fèn.
    The 12th lunar month is the coldest month of the year.
  • 。
    Zhè jiā de là ròu wèi dào hěn hǎo.
    The cured meat from this shop tastes great.
  • 腊。
    là Yú yě shì guò nián shí cháng jiàn de cài.
    Cured fish is also a common dish during the New Year.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
昔
昔xī腊là
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

腊 pairs 肉, meaning meat, with 昔, which gives the sound.

Appears in
Food (General)Months & Dates

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