敘
express, state, relate, narrate
Strokes11
Readings
On'yomi
- ジョ
Kun'yomi
- つい.ず
- ついで
Meaning
敘 centers on putting thoughts into words in an ordered way: expressing, stating, relating, or narrating events or ideas.
Study
Etymology
敘 combines 余 (likely phonetic) with 攵 (hand holding a stick, suggesting action), together conveying the idea of ordering or arranging words. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 余 can suggest surplus or extra, and the right side 攵 looks like a hand with a tool. Imagine a storyteller using a pointer to arrange extra details into a clear narrative.
Reading mnemonic
For ジョ, picture a narrator named Joe who loves to express and relate stories: Joe -> ジョ, and he narrates with a pointer in hand.