彩票
cǎi piào · HSK 5
lottery ticket
🎟️ 彩 = colorful + 票 = ticket
彩 means colorful/multicolored and 票 means ticket or slip. Together they form colorful-ticket, the standard term for a lottery ticket — named for the bright printed designs that distinguish it from ordinary slips.
票 — fire 火 (bottom) + 覀 (cover/west)
Originally written with 火 (fire) below 覀, depicting sparks or embers rising from a fire. The early meaning was 'flying sparks' or 'light, floating thing.' Over time it shifted to mean a slip of paper, ticket, or note — something light and easily passed around.