湫
wetlands, marsh
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- シュウ
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- くて
- くで
Meaning
湫 centers on low-lying, waterlogged land: a wetland or marsh. The meanings are closely related, both describing soggy, swampy ground.
Most common words using 湫
- 湫くで
wetland; marsh
Study
Etymology
湫 combines the water radical 氵 with 秋, which likely contributes the sound. The character is used for wetlands or marshes, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The water radical 氵 beside 秋 (autumn) suggests a place where water collects in the fall, like a marsh or wetland after autumn rains.
Reading mnemonic
For シュウ, imagine a shoe sinking into the muddy marsh: shoe -> シュウ, and the waterlogged ground swallows it.