Definitions
large brass drum
Etymology
About
The character 鼖 is a phono-semantic compound denoting a large ceremonial or military drum used for long-distance sound projection. Its left component, the semantic radical 鼓 (gǔ), anchors it within the category of drums and percussion instruments. The right component, 賁 (bēn/fén), serves solely as a phonetic indicator to establish pronunciation, without contributing semantic meaning. This character specifies a powerful subclass of drums distinct from standard or handheld variants, as described in classical contexts involving state rituals, military encampments, and grand orchestral arrangements.
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