About
The character 蠡 has a complex structure, with 彖 (tuàn), a component meaning pig or snout, positioned above two 虫 (chóng) radicals, which indicate insects. This composition reflects its original meaning: a wood-boring insect or the act of insects burrowing into wood. Today, 蠡 is best known as a proper noun, such as in the place name Lake Tai, historically called Wuli (五蠡), or the historical figure Fan Li (范蠡). In another pronunciation, it can refer to a calabash or gourd ladle, showing how the character evolved from describing insects to being used primarily in names and for specific objects.
Etymology Hide
