About
The character for "mule", now written in simplified form as "骡", evolved from the traditional character "騾", which structurally integrates the horse radical "馬" to denote its equine classification and the component "累" primarily serving as a phonetic element within this phono-semantic compound. This configuration has persisted over time, with the radical consistently anchoring the character in the semantic domain of hoofed animals while the phonetic component suggests its pronunciation, and the meaning has remained specifically fixed on the hybrid offspring of a horse and a donkey without notable semantic expansion or alteration. The traditional form's explicit use of the horse radical highlights the mule's perceived kinship with horses, and though the "累" element might informally evoke connotations of burden or accumulation in relation to the animal's laborious role, such an associative meaning is not firmly established in historical linguistic records.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这头骡子很高大。
骡子是一种有用的动物。
农民用骡子来拉车。
这匹骡子能驮很重的东西。
骡子的耐力比马还要好。
在山区，骡子仍然是重要的运输工具。
由于骡子不能繁殖，它们需要人工培育。
现代机械逐渐取代了骡子在农业中的角色。