梓
catalpa tree, woodblock printing
Readings
On'yomi
- シ
Kun'yomi
- あずさ
Meaning
梓 centers on the catalpa tree and its practical use: woodblock printing, which traditionally used catalpa wood for carving blocks.
Most common words using 梓
- 梓あずさ
Japanese cherry birch (Betula grossa)
- 上梓じょうし
wood-block printing
- 梓に上せるしにのぼせる
to bring (a book) into the world; to publish
- 梓匠ししょう
cabinetmaker; woodworker
- 梓宮しきゅう
Emperor's coffin (made of catalpa wood)
- 梓巫女あずさみこ
female medium who summons spirits by sounding the string of a catalpa bow
- 梓弓あずさゆみ
catalpa bow; spirit bow; bow used to summon spirits, made of Japanese cherry birch, catalpa, or other wood
- 玉梓たまずさ
(precious) letter; love letter
Study
Etymology
梓 combines 木 (tree) with 辛, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the catalpa tree's sharp or bitter properties. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A tree (木) with a sharp, bitter character (辛) is the catalpa, whose wood is used for carving printing blocks.
Reading mnemonic
For シ, imagine a sheet of paper printed from a catalpa woodblock: sheet -> シ, and the tree provides the printing surface.