盬
salt pit, leisure, pot, drink
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- コ
- ク
Kun'yomi
- あらしお
Meaning
盬 centers on a container for salt or liquid: a salt pit, a pot, or something used for drinking. The leisure sense is likely an extension of the idea of resting by a salt pit or a drinking vessel, but the connection is loose.
Study
Etymology
盬 is a rare character whose exact historical development is uncertain. It visually combines 臣, 古, and 皿, but the original semantic and phonetic roles of these components are unclear.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 臣 suggests a kneeling figure, while 古 and 皿 together evoke an old pot or dish. Picture someone kneeling by an ancient salt pit, using a pot to collect salt or drink.
Reading mnemonic
For コ, imagine a small child (子, こ) playing by the salt pit with a tiny pot: 子 -> コ, and the child is enjoying leisure time.