Skip to content
Kotomora

磬

upside-V-shaped gong

Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

磬 centers on a specific ancient percussion instrument: an upside-V-shaped stone gong used in traditional music.

Most common words using 磬

  • 磬きん

    inverted copper or iron bell shaped like a bowl (sounded when reciting sutras)

  • 磬けい

    sounding stone; qing; ancient Chinese chime shaped like a chevron (inverted 'v'), orig. of stone, today often metal, in Japan primarily used at Buddhist temples

Explore all words using 磬 →

Study

Etymology

磬 combines 殸 (a phonetic component associated with sound or striking) with 石 (stone), reflecting the instrument's material and function as a stone gong.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 殸 suggests a striking action, and the bottom 石 is stone. Picture a stone slab shaped like an upside-down V being struck to produce a resonant gong sound.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a stone gong shaped like the letter K: K -> ケイ, and when struck it rings out with a clear 'kay' sound.