Definitions
to stew in soy sauce and spices
alkaline soil; salt; brine; halogen (chemistry); crass; stupid
Etymology
Simplified form of 鹵. Depicts a container used for for salt extraction.
About
The character "卤" finds its origins in the traditional form "鹵", which pictographically represented a container holding crystalline salt, thus initially conveying concepts of saline soil or natural salt deposits. Its structural evolution, culminating in the simplified graphic, retained this foundational association with saltiness and preservation through a more condensed visual form. Over centuries, the semantic scope of the character expanded beyond its literal reference to salt, gradually encompassing the idea of brine and, by extension, the method of simmering or marinating food in a spiced, salty sauce, which led to the culinary terminology used today. This shift from denoting a raw material to describing a cooking process and its resulting dishes reflects the character's adaptation within cultural and practical contexts.
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢吃卤味。
妈妈买了卤肉和卤蛋。
他用卤水煮了一锅鸡蛋。
这家店的卤菜味道非常好。
卤制的食品通常颜色较深。
因为卤味很受欢迎，所以店里总是卖光。
卤素灯在汽车照明中也有应用。
制作卤味需要掌握火候和调味比例。