摩
chafe, rub, polish, grind, scrape
Readings
On'yomi
- マ
Kun'yomi
- ま.する
- さす.る
- す.る
Meaning
摩 centers on applying pressure and motion against a surface: rubbing, chafing, polishing, grinding, or scraping. All meanings share the idea of friction and wear.
Most common words using 摩
20 of 84- 摩擦まさつN2
friction
- 薩摩さつま
Satsuma (former province located in the west of present-day Kagoshima Prefecture)
- 志摩しま
Shima (former province located at the eastern tip of present-day Mie Prefecture)
- 摩耗まもう
wear; abrasion
- 摩天楼まてんろう
skyscraper
- 摩るさするN1
to rub; to pat; to stroke; to massage
- あん摩あんま
massage (esp. anma, a traditional form of Japanese massage)
- 摩訶不思議まかふしぎ
profound mystery
- 護摩ごま
homa; Buddhist rite of burning wooden sticks to ask a deity for blessings
- 多摩美術大学たまびじゅつだいがく
Tama Art University
- 摩訶まか
greatness; enormity; superiority; maha
- あん摩マッサージ指圧師あんまマッサージしあつし
licensed masseur; licensed masseuse
- 乾布摩擦かんぷまさつ
rubdown with a dry towel
- 僧伽藍摩そうがらんま
Buddhist convent or monastery
- 冷水摩擦れいすいまさつ
rubdown with a wet towel; cold-water rubbing
- 削摩さくま
denudation; ablation
- 動摩擦どうまさつ
kinetic friction
- 周面摩擦しゅうめんまさつ
skin friction
- 国立多摩研究所こくりつたまけんきゅうじょ
National Institute for Leprosy Research
- 多摩モノレールたまモノレール
Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail (abbr)
Study
Etymology
摩 combines 麻 (hemp) and 手 (hand). The original idea is likely rubbing hemp fibers by hand to process them, extending to general rubbing, polishing, and friction.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a hand (手) rubbing rough hemp (麻) fibers to soften them. The repeated friction represents chafing, polishing, grinding, or scraping.
Reading mnemonic
For マ, imagine your mom (ママ) polishing a table with a cloth: mom -> マ, and her hand rubs the surface.