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Kotomora

弭

stop, cease, notches where drawstring is attached to the bow

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ビ
  • ミ

Kun'yomi

  • や.める
  • や.む
  • ゆはず

Meaning

弭 centers on bringing something to a halt: stopping, ceasing, or the physical notches on a bow where the string is attached and the drawing motion ends.

Most common words using 弭

  • 弓弭ゆはず

    nock (of a bow)

  • 末弭うらはず

    top knock (of a bow)

  • 本弭もとはず

    bottom knock (of a bow)

Explore all words using 弭 →

Study

Etymology

弭 combines 弓 (bow) with 耳 (ear), which likely served as a phonetic component. The meaning of stopping or ceasing may be an extension from the bow notches where the string rests, or the character may have been borrowed for its sound.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a bow (弓) with an ear (耳) attached to it. The ear listens for the command to stop shooting, so the bow ceases its action at the notches where the string is drawn.

Reading mnemonic

For ビ, imagine a bee (ビ) landing on the bow's ear, and the archer stops drawing the string so the bee won't be disturbed: bee -> ビ.