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Kotomora

亜

Asia, rank next, come after, -ous

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ア

Kun'yomi

  • つ.ぐ

Nanori

  • や
  • つぎ
  • つぐ

Meaning

亜 centers on the idea of being secondary or coming after something else: ranking next, following in order, or being a lesser version. The meaning 'Asia' is a specific abbreviation, and '-ous' reflects a suffix-like sense of being characterized by something, which fits the idea of being attached to or derived from a primary thing.

Most common words using 亜

20 of 197
  • 亜あ

    sub-; second-rate; inferior

  • 東亜とうあ

    East Asia; the Orient

  • 亜鉛あえん

    zinc (Zn)

  • 亜熱帯あねったい

    subtropics

  • 亜麻あま

    flax (Linum usitatissimum); linseed

  • 白亜はくあ

    chalk (rock)

  • 興亜こうあ

    raising Asia; development of Asia; making Asia prosper

  • 亜流ありゅう

    (inferior) imitator; epigone; poor imitation; copycat

  • 亜硫酸ありゅうさん

    sulfurous acid; sulphurous acid

  • 起亜キア

    Kia (car company)

  • 亜麻仁あまに

    flaxseed; linseed

  • 亜細亜大学あじあだいがく

    Asia University

  • 亜寒帯あかんたい

    subarctic zone; subpolar region

  • 東亜日報とうあにっぽう

    The Dong-a Ilbo (Korean newspaper)

  • 亜種あしゅ

    subspecies

  • 亜硫酸ガスありゅうさんガス

    sulphurous acid gas; sulfurous acid gas; sulphur dioxide gas; sulfur dioxide gas

  • 白亜紀はくあき

    Cretaceous period

  • 亜科あか
    N1

    subfamily

  • アナバス亜目アナバスあもく

    Anabantoidei (suborder of labyrinth fish)

  • イヌ亜目イヌあもく

    Caniformia

Explore all words using 亜 →

Study

Etymology

亜 is the modern simplified form of 亞. The older form is a pictograph of a multi-room building or a layout with a central hall and side rooms, suggesting a secondary or subordinate position. The modern simplified shape retains the general outline but obscures the original architectural image.

Meaning mnemonic

The shape looks like a top bar with a boxy base, like a secondary shelf placed below the main one. Whatever is on the lower shelf comes after or ranks next to the top shelf.

Reading mnemonic

For ア, imagine a runner-up standing on the lower shelf, sighing 'Ah...' because they came second. The sound 'Ah' cues ア, and the runner-up is the one who comes after.