How to Write 赂 (lù) — Meaning “to bribe”

Imagine a person giving money (贝) to "each" (各) official to get a favor — that's a bribe. You can also think of "each shell" (each coin) used to corrupt someone. The visual trick is that 各 looks like a mouth (口) on top of legs, as if the money goes into many mouths.

Write left side 贝 first (vertical stroke, then horizontal folds, then two short strokes inside, and a final bottom horizontal). Then add right side 各: starting with the top 夂 (a short horizontal, then two dots), then 口 (a square). A common mistake is making the 贝 too wide or misplacing the two horizontal strokes inside 贝, which should be evenly spaced.

责 (zé, responsibility/require) and 贤 (xián, virtuous/worthy) look similar because they share 贝. But 责 has a top part from 束 (to bind), meaning binding with money debts, while 贤 has a top part 𠂉 (hand) and 臣 (subject) meaning a wise person. 赂 specifically means bribery, focusing on corrupt use of money, unlike 责 (duty) or 贤 (goodness).

赂 appears in formal words like 贿赂 (huìlù, to bribe/bribery) and 行赂 (to bribe) or 受赂 (to take bribes). It is used in legal and political contexts discussing corruption. In Chinese culture, bribery is a serious offense, and discussing 赂 often carries a negative moral judgment.

Common words containing 赂 include: 贿赂 (huì lù) — to bribe; bribery; 行赂 (xíng lù) — To bribe; 受赂 (shòu lù) — to take bribes.