梃
lever
Strokes11
Readings
On'yomi
- チョウ
- テイ
Kun'yomi
- てこ
- つえ
Meaning
梃 centers on a rigid bar used to multiply force: a lever. The idea is a wooden tool that helps lift or move something heavy.
Most common words using 梃
Study
Etymology
梃 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 廷, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a wooden stick or bar, later specialized to mean a lever.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a tree 木, and the right side 廷 suggests a court or hall. Imagine a long wooden beam used as a lever to move heavy stones in a palace courtyard.
Reading mnemonic
For チョウ, picture a long lever named Chou (pronounced 'choh') that the workers use to lift a heavy block: Chou -> チョウ, and the wooden lever does the job.