Definitions

(noun) official salary; government emolument
(noun) good fortune; prosperity

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of 祿.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "禄", originating from its traditional form "祿", is structurally composed of the semantic radical "示", which relates to spiritual or ceremonial matters, and the component "彔", serving primarily as a phonetic element. Etymologically, it initially conveyed the concept of divine blessing or prosperity, reflecting a worldview where fortune was seen as a grant from the heavens. Over time, its meaning shifted to specifically denote the salary or emolument of government officials, a change that aligned with the conceptual blending of material reward with celestial favor in imperial society. This transition from a broad sense of spiritual blessing to a more concrete secular entitlement demonstrates how the character's semantic focus narrowed in response to cultural and administrative developments while preserving its inherent association with beneficial provision.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的俸很高。

Tā de fènglù hěn gāo.

His salary is very high.

是福气的一种。

Lù shì fúqì de yī zhǒng.

Prosperity is a kind of good fortune.

官员享有朝廷的俸

Guānyuán xiǎngyǒu cháotíng de fènglù.

Officials enjoy the salary from the imperial court.

并不能带来快乐。

Hòu lù bìng bù néng dàilái kuàilè.

A generous salary cannot bring happiness.

他追求的是位而非理想。

Tā zhuīqiú de shì lù wèi ér fēi lǐxiǎng.

What he pursues is official position and salary rather than ideals.

在古代,位象征着权力和地位。

Zài gǔdài, lù wèi xiàngzhēngzhe quánlì hé dìwèi.

In ancient times, official position and salary symbolized power and status.

追求利可能让人迷失自我。

Zhuīqiú lù lì kěnéng ràng rén míshī zìwǒ.

Pursuing salary and benefits may cause people to lose themselves.

只求俸的人生缺乏深远意义。

Zhǐ qiú fènglù de rénshēng quēfá shēnyuǎn yìyì.

A life that only seeks salary lacks profound meaning.