How to Write 珥 (ěr) — Meaning “Ear ornaments”

Picture a jade (王) pendant hanging from an ear (耳). This visual combines the two parts of 珥, helping you remember it means ear ornaments.

Write the left radical 王 narrow with three horizontal strokes from top to bottom, then a vertical stroke. The right part 耳 is wider; its last vertical stroke should extend slightly lower. A common mistake is making both halves the same width, which looks unbalanced.

珥 specifically means ear ornaments, while 玟 and 玡 refer to types of jade without a body-part connection. Visually, 珥 has 耳 (ear) on the right, 玟 has 文 (writing), and 玡 has 牙 (tooth).

珥 appears mainly in literary or historical descriptions, such as 珠珥 (pearl earrings) or 珥饰 (ear ornaments). It is not used in daily conversation but can be found in classical poetry or museum descriptions of ancient jewelry.

Common words containing 珥 include: 珠珥 (zhū ěr) — Pearl earrings; 珥饰 (ěr shì) — Ear ornaments; 珥坠 (ěr zhuì) — Earring pendants.