river in Hebei province, creek
淶 centers on a specific waterway: a river in Hebei province, or more generally a creek. The meaning is tied to a geographical name rather than an abstract concept.
淶 combines the water radical 氵 with 來, which likely contributes the sound. It is a phono-semantic compound used for a river name.
The water radical 氵 beside 來 suggests a river or creek. Picture the flowing water of a creek coming (來) toward you.
For ライ, imagine a river in Hebei that lies quietly under the sun: lie -> ライ, and the creek lies still.
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