禰
ancestral shrine
StatusJinmeiyōStrokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- ネ
- デイ
- ナイ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
禰 centers on a shrine dedicated to ancestors, a place for honoring family lineage and performing ancestral rites.
Most common words using 禰
Study
Etymology
禰 combines 示 (altar, spirit) with 爾, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to proximity or closeness, fitting the idea of a near ancestral shrine.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 示 is an altar, and the right side 爾 looks like a complex structure with many small parts. Picture an ancestral shrine filled with tablets and offerings, each part representing a different ancestor.
Reading mnemonic
For ネ, imagine kneeling at the ancestral shrine to say a prayer: kneel -> ネ, as you honor your ancestors.