About
The character 箩 (simplified from 籮) is a phono-semantic compound. Its upper component, the radical 竹, denotes the material bamboo, while the lower component 罗 (luó) provides the pronunciation. The character refers to a square or round basket, typically woven from bamboo or wicker, used for holding grain or other goods. During simplification, the phonetic element was changed from the complex 罗 (originally meaning a silk bird net) to the simpler form 罗, with the bamboo radical retained to indicate the material category. This character has consistently described woven utility containers, reflecting the historical role of bamboo weaving in daily agricultural and domestic life.
Etymology Hide
