蜡 (là)

candle; wax

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 昔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠟.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“蜡,蠅也。《周禮》:‘蜡氏掌除骴。’从虫,昔聲。”

Components