About
罾 is a phono-semantic compound denoting a large, square lift net, typically lowered from a frame into water to catch fish. Its structure combines the net radical 罒 at the top, indicating the semantic category of traps and nets, with the phonetic component 曾 (zēng) below, which guides pronunciation. As a noun, it refers to this specific fishing apparatus; as a verb, it means to catch fish using such a net. The character is specialized, appearing in contexts related to traditional fishing, rural aquaculture, and classical depictions of riverbank life, rather than in general modern usage.
Etymology Hide
