楔
wedge, arrowhead
Readings
On'yomi
- ケツ
- セツ
Kun'yomi
- くさび
- ほうだて
Meaning
楔 centers on a wedge-shaped object used to split, tighten, or secure something. The arrowhead sense is a specific application of that same tapered, penetrating shape.
Most common words using 楔
- 楔くさび
wedge; chock; linchpin; lynchpin
- 割り楔わりくさび
split wedge
- 楔を刺すくさびをさす
to make sure (of); to drive in a wedge
- 楔を打ち込むくさびをうちこむ
to drive a wedge into (e.g. enemy defences); to wedge apart
- 楔子けっし
wedge; lynchpin; cotter
- 楔形文字くさびがたもじ
cuneiform (writing)
- 楔河豚くさびふぐ
slender sunfish (Ranzania laevis); oblong sunfish
- 楔状けつじょう
wedge-shaped; cuneate; cuneiform
- 楔状文字けつじょうもじ
cuneiform (writing)
- 楔状骨けつじょうこつ
cuneiform (bones)
- 氷楔ひょうせつ
ice wedge
- 間の楔あいのくさび
wedge (for securing objects together)
Study
Etymology
楔 combines 木 (tree/wood) with 契, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of cutting or carving. Together they suggest a wooden wedge or a tool for splitting.
Meaning mnemonic
A wooden 木 wedge 契 is driven into a log to split it. Picture the tapered shape forcing the wood apart.
Reading mnemonic
For ケツ, imagine a wedge getting stuck and you need to give it a sharp 'kets' kick to drive it in: kets -> ケツ.