Definitions

lèi to pour out a libation; to sprinkle

Etymology

A pinch  of wine  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "酹" is structured with the semantic component "酉", which denotes wine or alcohol, combined with the phonetic component "寽" that indicates its pronunciation. Etymologically, this character originated from ancient ritual practices where it specifically meant to pour wine as a libation during sacrificial ceremonies. Over time, its meaning has remained closely tied to this act of offering wine, and it continues to be used in literary or formal contexts to describe ritual libations without acquiring broader semantic applications.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern