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Kotomora

呂

spine, backbone

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ロ
  • リョ

Kun'yomi

  • せぼね

Nanori

  • とも
  • なが

Meaning

呂 centers on the spine or backbone as a central structural line. The meaning is anatomical and concrete, referring to the vertebral column.

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Etymology

呂 is a pictograph of two connected vertebrae, representing the spine. The modern form retains the image of stacked segments linked by a central line.

Meaning mnemonic

See the two 口 shapes as stacked vertebrae, with the diagonal stroke 丿 as the connecting spinal cord. Together they form the backbone.

Reading mnemonic

For ロ, picture a row of vertebrae lined up like the letter 'R' and 'O' repeated: R-O, R-O — the 'ro' sound cues ロ while the stacked shapes echo the spine.