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The character 竽 is a phono-semantic compound representing an ancient free-reed wind instrument, larger than the modern sheng with more pipes. Its upper component, the bamboo radical 竹, indicates the material of the pipes, following the traditional classification of Chinese wind instruments. The lower component 亏 provides the phonetic element, giving the character its pronunciation. Historically, the term refers specifically to this instrument, appearing in classical texts on court music and ensembles. It is also featured in the idiom 滥竽充数, which describes someone feigning skill to occupy a place without genuine ability.
Etymology Hide
