Definitions

variant of 拉[lá] (Note: 剌 was the character used prior to simplification and remains the standard in Taiwan, while in mainland China, 拉 has replaced 剌)
perverse; unreasonable; absurd

Etymology

Depicts using a knife () to cut crops (𣏮). Similar in origin to .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "剌" is composed of the component "束", which conveys binding, and the knife radical "刂", indicating a cutting action, with the combined structure etymologically suggesting the severing of something constrained. Historically, this character was used in classical texts to express defiance or perversity, as evidenced in constructs like "剌谬" meaning contradiction. Its semantic range later narrowed, and it now functions mainly in limited lexical compounds or as a phonetic component, reflecting a shift toward associations with incongruity or harsh discord.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是阿伯人。

Tā shì ā là bó rén.

He is an Arab.

伯半岛很大。

Ā là bó bàn dǎo hěn dà.

The Arabian Peninsula is very large.

伯语很难学。

Ā là bó yǔ hěn nán xué.

Arabic is very difficult to learn.

这个故事很乖

Zhè gè gù shi hěn guāi là.

This story is very perverse.

他的行为有些谬。

Tā de xíng wéi yǒu xiē là miù.

His behavior is somewhat contradictory.

鱼儿泼一声跳出水面。

Yú er pō là yì shēng tiào chū shuǐ miàn.

The fish jumped out of the water with a splash.

这篇文章中有谬之处。

Zhè piān wén zhāng zhōng yǒu là miù zhī chù.

There are contradictions in this article.

这种谬的论点很难理解。

Zhè zhǒng là miù de lùn diǎn hěn nán lǐ jiě.

This kind of contradictory argument is hard to understand.