Kunming Lake
The character "洱" (er) is irrelevant with ear (耳) that is a common error. During the Han to Tang dynasty, there was an ancient ethnic named "Kunming Yi" or Kunming Barbarian () lived in the neighbouring region of Erhai lake. Therefore, the lake was also called "Kunming Lake". The "Kunming Yi" has another name "Kun-mi" (). In the following time, Chinese literature recorded the name "昆弥" as "昆弭" (Kun-mi) that "弭" is a rebus of "弥". And the name of the lake was also be changed to the character "渳" (mi) which has a water-meaning radical () attached to it. Fang Guoyu believe the name "洱" (er) was simplified from "渳", after that the name "Erhai" continues to this day.