罍

léi

畾 + 缶

Definitions

léi large earthenware wine jar

Etymology

About

罍 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 缶 at the bottom, representing earthenware, pottery, or a clay vessel, and the phonetic component 畾 at the top, a stack of three 田 'field' characters. It refers to an ancient, large vessel used primarily for storing wine or water during important banquets and ceremonial rituals. These vessels were typically made of bronze or pottery and feature a distinctive shape: a narrow neck, broad shoulders, and ring handles. The character's meaning is confined to this specific archaeological and historical object, functioning solely as a noun for this ceremonial wine receptacle without broader abstract meanings.