犀
rhinoceros
Readings
On'yomi
- サイ
- セイ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
犀 centers on the rhinoceros, a large thick-skinned animal with one or two horns.
Most common words using 犀
- 金木犀きんもくせい
fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus)
- 犀さい
rhinoceros
- インド犀インドさい
Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis); great one-horned rhinoceros
- ジャワ犀ジャワさい
Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
- スマトラ犀スマトラさい
Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
- 木犀もくせい
fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans); sweet olive
- 木犀草もくせいそう
mignonette (Reseda odorata)
- 烏犀帯うさいたい
type of leather belt worn with ceremonial court dress and decorated with a rhinoceros horn
- 烏犀角うさいかく
black rhinoceros horn
- 燃犀之明ねんさいのめい
extraordinary perceptiveness; sharp insight
- 犀利さいり
sharp; keen
- 犀皮さいひ
rhinoceros hide
- 犀皮塗りさいひぬり
Chinese lacquerware technique resulting in a mottled finish
- 犀角さいかく
rhinoceros horn
- 犀鳥さいちょう
hornbill (any bird of family Bucerotidae)
- 白犀しろさい
white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
- 銀木犀ぎんもくせい
tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans); fragrant olive; sweet olive
- 黒犀くろさい
black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
Study
Etymology
犀 is thought to combine 尸 (here representing a body or hide) with a phonetic element that also suggests the animal's tough skin. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 尸 looks like a thick hide or body, and the lower part suggests the heavy legs and horn of a rhinoceros. Picture a rhino's tough shape under that outer covering.
Reading mnemonic
For サイ, imagine a rhinoceros sighing loudly: sigh -> サイ, as the rhino lets out a deep breath.