穪
to praise
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- たた.える
- とな.える
- あ.げる
- かな.う
- はか.る
- ほめ.る
Meaning
穪 centers on expressing praise or commendation. The given meanings all relate to speaking highly of someone or something.
Study
Etymology
穪 is a variant form of 称 (稱). The modern standard form 称 combines 禾 (grain) with 尓, while 穪 uses 禾 with 爾. Historically, 稱/称 is associated with weighing and measuring, which extended to praising or commending. The exact development of the 爾 component in this variant is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 禾 (grain) and the right side 爾 (a complex shape that can be thought of as a person speaking) combine to suggest praising someone, perhaps as if weighing their good qualities like grain.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine a show where people praise the performers: show -> ショウ, and the grain-like left side represents the harvest of compliments.