Definitions

kuǎi a rush; scirpus cyperinus

Etymology

A shoot that is cut  for building material

About

The character "蒯" is structured with the grass radical "艹" positioned above the phonetic component "蒯", which historically provided its pronunciation and aligned with its original botanical meaning as a type of rush plant utilized for producing ropes and mats. Etymologically, this plant-based reference is embedded in its composition, while the character's application gradually shifted over centuries from denoting the plant to being employed primarily as a Chinese surname, with the earlier vegetative meaning becoming largely obsolete.