Definitions
(bamboo); trumpet for chariots
Etymology
About
簛 is a phono-semantic compound where the semantic radical 竹 (bamboo) at the top indicates its material category, encompassing bamboo artifacts or instruments. Below it, the phonetic component 孤 supplies the pronunciation gū, while its independent meaning of "solitary" or "orphan" is not semantically relevant here. Together, the character historically denoted a bamboo trumpet used for signaling, or alternatively, a specialized bamboo vessel. The radical 竹 consistently places the character within the domain of bamboo-made objects, with 孤 serving purely as a phonetic guide.
Etymology Hide
