How to Write 竽 (yú) — Meaning “Yu (an ancient reed pipe instrument)”

Imagine a bamboo (竹) pipe shaped like the letter 'Y' (for yu), and think of a musician blowing into it to play a tune. The bottom part 于 looks like a person standing with arms out, playing the instrument.

The top component 竹 is wider than the bottom 于, and the two halves of 竹 should be even. A common mistake is writing the 于 part too large or misaligning the vertical stroke of 于 with the center of 竹.

竽 has a bamboo top and 于 bottom, meaning a musical instrument. 竺 has a bamboo top and 二 bottom, meaning bamboo or used in the name India (天竺). 竿 has a bamboo top and 干 bottom, meaning a pole or rod, as in 鱼竿 (fishing rod).

竽 is rarely used alone today, but appears in the idiom 滥竽充数, which means 'to pass off inferior goods as quality ones' or 'to hold a position without qualifications.' It comes from a story about someone who pretended to play the yu in a royal orchestra.

Common words containing 竽 include: 吹竽 (chuī yú) — to play the yu (reed pipe); 滥竽充数 (làn yú chōng shù) — to fill a position without qualifications; to make up the number; 竽乐 (yú lè) — Music played on the yu.