How to Write 笠 (lì) — Meaning “bamboo hat”

Picture a conical bamboo hat shaped like a "lid" resting on someone’s head. The top part (竹) looks like two bamboo shoots, and the bottom part (立) resembles a person standing up, holding the hat in place.

Write the top 竹 first: left side (撇、横、点) then right side (撇、横、点) — 6 strokes total. Then write the bottom 立 with 5 strokes, keeping it centered and narrow under the bamboo so the character does not become too wide.

笠 means bamboo hat, 竽 is a bamboo musical instrument, and 竿 is a bamboo pole. Visually, 笠 has 立 on the bottom, 竽 has 于, and 竿 has 干. Their meanings also differ: 笠 is worn on the head, 竽 is played, and 竿 is a long stick.

笠 appears in words like 斗笠 (conical bamboo hat) and 竹笠 (bamboo hat), often associated with farmers or fishermen in traditional settings. It is not common in daily speech, but it appears in poetry and idioms like 青箬笠, evoking a peaceful rural or classic Chinese image.

Common words containing 笠 include: 斗笠 (dǒu lì) — Bamboo hat / Conical hat; 竹笠 (zhú lì) — Bamboo hat; 笠帽 (lì mào) — conical bamboo hat.