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賂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
賂lùbribery; to bribe; to presentx, 13 strokes, radical 貝
lù(lu4) T4
  1. 1bribery; to bribe; to present
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March 24, 2026

賂lù(lu4)

The character 賂 (lù) refers to the act of bribery or presenting gifts to influence someone's actions or decisions. It is often used in contexts involving corruption or unethical exchanges, particularly in government or business settings. It carries a negative connotation and is associated with illegal activities.

Strokes13Radical貝
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, bribery has been a significant issue, especially in historical contexts of governance, where officials were often seen as corrupt. The Chinese government's ongoing anti-corruption campaigns highlight the serious view of bribery in contemporary society.

Memory Tip

Think of 賂 (lù) as a 'lucrative' offer made to sway someone's judgment. The left radical 貝 (bèi) represents money or valuables, and the right part looks like a person leaning in to accept a bribe, making it easier to remember the connection between money and bribery.

Meanings of 賂

lù(lu4)
1bribery; to bribe; to present
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 賂

賂Simplified
13Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 賂

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Podcast: 賂

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AI Study Notes for 賂

Quick Contrast

贿 (huì) — use 賂 (lù) for a more formal or literary context, while 贿 (huì) is more commonly used in everyday language.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 賂 (lù) is a formal term associated with illegal bribery and should not be used lightly in casual conversation. Common collocations include 賂賄 (lùhuì), meaning 'to engage in bribery,' and avoid confusing it with similar words like 送 (sòng), which means 'to give' in a neutral context.

HSK Study Tips

Although 賂 (lù) is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with themes of ethics and law that are relevant for higher-level learners. Focus on understanding its implications in Chinese society, especially in discussions around governance and corruption.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 賂 (lù) with 贈 (zèng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts of gift-giving. Remember, 賂 specifically implies bribery, while 贈 is appropriate for legitimate gifts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 賂

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Etymology of 賂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

money

Semantic (meaning)貝
+
Phonetic (sound)各
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 賂

  1. 1The meaning half貝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half各 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymoney
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 賂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 賂?

Decomposition of 賂

IDS Structure⿰貝各
賂Full Character
=
貝bei4
left
各ge4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 賂?

How to say bribery; to bribe; to present in Chinese

“bribery; to bribe; to present” in Chinese is賂lù

The character 賂 (lù) refers to the act of bribery or presenting gifts to influence someone's actions or decisions. It is often used in contexts involving corruption or unethical exchanges, particularly in government or business settings. It carries a negative connotation and is associated with illegal activities.

When to use 賂

Be mindful that 賂 (lù) is a formal term associated with illegal bribery and should not be used lightly in casual conversation. Common collocations include 賂賄 (lùhuì), meaning 'to engage in bribery,' and avoid confusing it with similar words like 送 (sòng), which means 'to give' in a neutral context.

賂 or something close to it

贿 (huì) — use 賂 (lù) for a more formal or literary context, while 贿 (huì) is more commonly used in everyday language.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 賂 (lù) with 贈 (zèng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts of gift-giving. Remember, 賂 specifically implies bribery, while 贈 is appropriate for legitimate gifts.

Write 賂

賂

Practice writing 賂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 賂

Words Containing This Character2
贿赂huìlùto bribe賄賂
赂lùbribe賂
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 贿赂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 賂

While 賂 (lù) refers specifically to bribery and unethical gifts, 贈 (zèng) means to present gifts in a positive and legitimate context.

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