喇

A phono-semantic compound:

口 (mouth) — sound, blowing

剌 — phonetic element, "la"

The semantic component 口 indicates sound produced by the mouth, while 剌 supplies the pronunciation and conveys a sense of sharpness or piercing force, well suited to the sound of a trumpet.

In modern Korean, 喇 almost exclusively appears in 喇叭.

나팔 (喇叭) — trumpet; horn

나발 (喇叭) — trumpet (colloquial / alternative form)

나팔수 (喇叭手) — trumpeter; bugler

나팔 소리 (喇叭 소리) — trumpet sound; blaring noise

In pre-modern Chinese texts, 喇 appears mainly in descriptive or onomatopoeic contexts, referring to instrumental sound rather than abstract meaning.

In Buddhist ritual language, 喇叭 was sometimes mentioned alongside drums and bells as instruments used in processions and ceremonial announcements, though it is less prominent than 鐘 (bell) or 鼓 (drum).

While 喇 itself is rare in high classical poetry, wind instruments symbolized:

- military signals

- announcements of arrival

- the transience of sound

Comparable imagery appears with 角 (horn) and 笛 (flute), which often substitute for 喇 in verse.

Semantically related:

叭 — sound of striking or popping

吹 — to blow

角 — horn (animal horn, musical horn)

笛 — flute

號 — trumpet call; signal

Phonetic relatives:

剌 — sharp; pierce

辣 — spicy; pungent (phonetic relation)

喇 is a sound-centered character, strongly tied to auditory imagery. It lacks abstract philosophical extensions, unlike many 心-based characters.

Its usage is concrete and sensory, rooted in music, signals, and announcements.