Definitions

kōng ancient Chinese harp

Etymology phono-semantic

bamboo

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

A phono-semantic compound, combines the semantic radical (bamboo) above the phonetic (kōng), which supplies the sound. The character is almost entirely restricted to the word 箜篌 (kōnghóu), an ancient multi-stringed plucked instrument similar to a harp, the bamboo radical pointing to the historical use of bamboo in constructing such instruments or their components. has virtually no independent usage outside this specialized musical term.