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诔 (lěi) and its traditional form 誄 are phono-semantic compounds: the semantic radical is 讠 (a simplified form of 言 'speech'), indicating the character relates to language; the right-side component 耒 (lěi), originally a wooden plow, functions as the phonetic. The character denotes a eulogy, a formal memorial speech that recounts the accomplishments and virtues of the deceased, usually delivered during funerary rites.
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