鬲

gé, lì

一 + 丅 + 口 + 𦉪

Definitions

gé earthen pot, iron cauldron

Etymology

Pictograph of an ancient ceramic three-legged vessel used for cooking.

About

鬲 originally was a pictograph of an ancient ceramic cooking vessel with three hollow, bulbous legs. The earliest inscriptions show its wide mouth, rounded belly, and tripod base, capturing the distinctive shape that allowed fire to heat food quickly. As the vessel later fell out of use, the character became a radical for characters related to cooking pots, cauldrons, and earthen vessels. It also took on a secondary pronunciation and functions as a phonetic component and a surname.