潅
pour into, irrigate, shed (tears), flow into, concentrate on
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- そそ.ぐ
Meaning
潅 centers on directing a liquid or one's attention into a target: pouring water, irrigating fields, shedding tears, or concentrating on something. The idea is a focused flow.
Most common words using 潅
- 潅水かんすい
sprinkling (water); watering (plants)
Study
Etymology
潅 is a simplified variant of 灌. The older form 灌 combines 氵 (water) with 雚 (a heron-like bird), which likely contributed the sound and the idea of water flowing. The modern simplified right side replaces 雚 with a compact arrangement of 隹 and 矢.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 pours onto a bird-like shape with an arrow 矢, as if irrigating a field where a bird was shot. The water flows in and concentrates on that spot.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, picture pouring water from a can into an irrigation channel: can -> カン, and the water flows exactly where you aim.