Definitions

(noun) 12th lunar month; preserved (meat, fish)
(noun) dried meat

Etymology

A sacrifice of meat ⺼ for the past year 

About

The character "腊" is structurally composed of the "月" radical, denoting flesh, and the phonetic component "昔", with its earliest meaning referring specifically to dried meat. The traditional character "臘", built from the "月" radical and the phonetic component "巤", historically represented the year-end sacrifice and by extension the twelfth lunar month. Through historical usage, "腊" came to be employed for the concepts associated with "臘", resulting in "腊" assuming the meanings of both cured meats and the lunar December, while "臘" remains its traditional counterpart with identical semantics.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃肉。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī làròu.

I like to eat cured meat.

月天气很冷。

Là yuè tiānqì hěn lěng.

The weather in December is very cold.

妈妈做了味香肠。

Māma zuòle làwèi xiāngcháng.

Mom made cured sausage.

八节那天我们喝八粥。

Làbā jié nà tiān wǒmen hē làbā zhōu.

On Laba Festival, we eat Laba porridge.

月里,人们准备过年。

Zài là yuè lǐ, rénmen zhǔnbèi guònián.

In December, people prepare for the New Year.

这种肉来自湖南,非常有名。

Zhè zhǒng làròu láizì Húnán, fēicháng yǒumíng.

This kind of cured meat comes from Hunan and is very famous.

月的寒风刺骨,但节日气氛温暖人心。

Là yuè de hánfēng cìgǔ, dàn jiérì qìfēn wēnnuǎn rénxīn.

The cold wind in December is piercing, but the festive atmosphere warms the heart.

尽管月工作繁忙,他仍抽时间制作肉。

Jǐnguǎn là yuè gōngzuò fánmáng, tā réng chōu shíjiān zhìzuò làròu.

Although work is busy in December, he still takes time to make cured meat.