櫻
cherry
StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes21
Readings
On'yomi
- オウ
- ヨウ
Kun'yomi
- さくら
Meaning
櫻 centers on the cherry tree and its blossoms, a culturally significant flowering tree in Japan.
Most common words using 櫻
- 櫻井鉱さくらいこう
sakuraiite
Study
Etymology
櫻 is the traditional form of 桜. It combines 木 (tree) with 嬰, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to a necklace or adornment, possibly alluding to the ornamental cherry blossoms.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a tree 木, and the right side 嬰 looks like a woman 女 wearing a necklace of shells 貝 with eyes 目 on top. Picture a cherry tree adorned with beautiful blossoms like a woman wearing a necklace.
Reading mnemonic
For オウ, imagine an old cherry tree with a large hollow where an owl lives: owl -> オウ, and the owl hoots among the cherry blossoms.