潮
tide, salt water, opportunity
Readings
On'yomi
- チョウ
Kun'yomi
- しお
- うしお
Nanori
- いた
Meaning
潮 centers on the rhythmic movement of the sea: the tide. Salt water is the substance of that tide, and opportunity is a natural extension—like a favorable tide that comes and goes.
Most common words using 潮
20 of 124- 潮しおN1
tide; current
- 風潮ふうちょう
tide; current
- 新潮しんちょう
Shinchō (magazine and publisher)
- 潮吹きしおふき
spouting (of a whale); blowing (water and air)
- 潮流ちょうりゅう
tide; tidal current
- 満潮まんちょう
high tide; high water; full tide
- 最高潮さいこうちょう
climax; peak; zenith; apex
- 潮風しおかぜ
sea breeze; salty wind; briny air
- 潮時しおどき
tidal hour
- 新潮社しんちょうしゃ
Shinchosha (publisher)
- 干潮かんちょう
low tide; low water; ebb
- 黒潮くろしお
Kuroshio Current; Japan Current
- 大潮おおしお
spring tide
- 高潮こうちょう
high tide; high water
- 潮騒しおさい
roar of the sea; sound of waves
- 潮干狩りしおひがり
clam digging (at low tide); clamming; shellfish gathering
- 潮位ちょうい
tide level
- 血潮ちしお
spurt of blood
- 親潮おやしお
Oyashio Current; Kurile Current; Okhotsk Current
- 潮汐ちょうせき
tide
Study
Etymology
潮 combines 氵 (water) with 朝, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of morning, when tides are often observed. The character expresses the tide and its associated salt water.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 and morning 朝 come together: picture the morning tide rolling in, bringing salt water and new opportunities with the waves.
Reading mnemonic
For チョウ, imagine a tide so strong it makes a distinctive 'chow' sound as it crashes: chow -> チョウ, and the morning tide brings the sea's rhythm.