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Kotomora

沾

moisten, wet, soak, touch

Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • セン
  • チョウ
  • テン

Kun'yomi

  • うるお.う
  • うるお.す

Meaning

沾 centers on liquid making contact: moistening, wetting, or soaking something. The 'touch' sense is a figurative extension of liquid reaching a surface.

Study

Etymology

沾 combines 氵 (water) with 占, which likely contributes the sound. The character expresses the idea of water making contact and moistening.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 touches and spreads over 占, like a drop of water landing on a surface and soaking in.

Reading mnemonic

For セン, imagine a cent (coin) dropped into water, sending ripples that moisten everything: cent -> セン.