How to Write 匋 (táo) — Meaning “pottery; earthenware (archaic)”

Imagine a potter wrapping clay around a jar (缶) with both hands (the top 勹 suggests arms embracing). This "wrapped jar" scene reminds you that 匋 means pottery or earthenware.

Start with the left-leaning 勹: draw the short left stroke, then the horizontal and hook. Next write the 缶 below: first the top horizontal, then three vertical strokes, and finish with the bottom horizontal. Keep the top 勹 narrow so it sits neatly above the wider 缶.

匋 has 缶 (jar) below, while 匈 has 凶 (chest/cavity) inside 勹, meaning "chest" or "hungry." 匊 contains 米 (rice) inside 勹, meaning "handful" or "to grasp." Focusing on the lower component helps you tell them apart visually and by meaning.

匋 is an archaic character rarely used alone today; it appears mostly in formal or literary terms like 匋器 (pottery) and 匋冶 (to mold or cultivate character). You might encounter it in historical texts, classical poetry, or discussions of ancient ceramics, but in daily life the more common word for pottery is 陶 (also táo).

Common words containing 匋 include: 匋器 (táo qì) — pottery; earthenware; 匋冶 (táo yě) — to mold; to cultivate (character); 匋匋 (táo táo) — happy; carefree (archaic).