Origin

This character combines the radical for jade or precious stones (王, the left component) with a component on the right that provides a sound hint for pronunciation. The left part signals that we're talking about something valuable and gemstone-like, while the right component suggests how to say the character — roughly "ri". Together they create a character for a lustrous, glassy stone or gem, most likely referring to lapis lazuli or similar precious materials that were highly valued in East Asia. The pairing of "precious stone" with this particular sound gives us a character specifically for these beautiful, translucent or glass-like gems.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).