entries → 賂
TSUMUGU · C1 (est.) · 字
character · C1 (est.)
賂 =
ㄌㄨˋ · lù
verb/noun — to bribe; a bribe, a gift for favor

字源 FORM — what the parts do

a cowrie, goods given
gives the soundgè — drifted to lù
IFTgè → lù — initial, final and tone all moved off the donor
Goods (貝) handed over — a present, then a present that buys favor. 各 carries the sound gè, worn far to lù. The sense settles on the bribe: 賄賂 a bribe, 賂遺 to bribe with gifts. It lives almost always beside 賄.
意 · Meanings
(本義)賂、賂遺— to present, to bribe常用
賄賂— a bribe, graft常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension