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Kotomora

乂

mow, cut grass, subdue

Strokes2

Readings

On'yomi

  • ガイ
  • カイ
  • ゲ

Kun'yomi

  • おさ.める
  • か.る

Meaning

乂 centers on cutting down or controlling: mowing grass, cutting vegetation, and by extension subduing or bringing something under control.

Study

Etymology

乂 is an ancient pictograph of a cutting tool or scythe, representing the action of mowing or cutting down. The modern form retains the crossed-blade shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The two crossed strokes look like the blades of a scythe or shears, cutting through grass. That cutting action extends to subduing or bringing something under control.

Reading mnemonic

For ガイ, imagine a guy mowing a field with a scythe: guy -> ガイ, and the crossed blades cut the grass.