About
The character 窳 (yǔ) describes something inherently flawed, weak, lazy, or of inferior quality. Structurally, it places the cave radical 穴 (xué) atop elements including 瓜 (guā), the melon. This combination evokes a sense of hollow weakness or a gourd that has spoiled inside its enclosure. While its precise etymological origins are debated, the character solidified over time as a literary term for poor craftsmanship, moral laxity, or objects lacking integrity and proper function.
Etymology Hide
