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Kotomora

栞

bookmark, guidebook

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōStrokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン

Kun'yomi

  • しおり

Meaning

栞 centers on a physical marker that guides or holds a place: a bookmark in a book, or by extension a guidebook that marks a path.

Most common words using 栞

  • 栞しおり

    bookmark

Explore all words using 栞 →

Study

Etymology

栞 is a Japanese kokuji (国字) created from 幵 (a variant of 干) and 木 (tree), likely representing a wooden marker or guidepost. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 幵 looks like a marker or sign, and the bottom 木 is a tree. Imagine a wooden sign stuck in the ground as a guidepost, or a wooden bookmark marking a page.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, picture a can of wooden bookmarks: can -> カン, and you pull one out to mark your page.