How to Write 篑 (kuì) — Meaning “bamboo basket for carrying soil”

Imagine a bamboo basket (竹) that is so "贵" (valuable/expensive) because it is used to carry the last bits of earth needed to finish a mountain. The phrase 功亏一篑 (fail at the last basket) helps you link the character to the final, crucial basketful of soil.

The top part 竹 is written as two short strokes (撇, 横) on the left and right, then two vertical components. Pay special attention not to make the bottom part 贵 too narrow; the middle '口' should be compact, and the final two strokes (贝's 撇 and 点) should balance the width of the whole character.

篑 (kuì) means a bamboo basket for soil, while 筠 (jūn) refers to bamboo skin or a place name, and 筢 (pá) is a bamboo rake. Visually, 篑 has 贵 below, 筠 has 均 (equal) below, and 筢 has 巴 (claw) below — each bottom part indicates different sounds and uses.

篑 is rare in daily speech but appears in the idiom 功亏一篑, which means failing just short of success, like missing the last basket of earth needed to complete a mound. This idiom comes from ancient Chinese philosophy, teaching the importance of persisting until the very end.

Common words containing 篑 include: 功亏一篑 (gōng kuī yī kuì) — to fail at the last step; 篑土 (kuì tǔ) — a basketful of earth; 覆篑 (fù kuì) — To add the last basket of earth (to complete a task).