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Kotomora

窗

window, pane

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ
  • ス

Kun'yomi

  • まど
  • てんまど
  • けむだし

Meaning

窗 centers on an opening in a wall that lets in light and air: a window or a pane. The idea is a framed aperture, often with a covering.

Study

Etymology

窗 is the traditional form of 窓. It combines 穴 (hole, cavity) with 囱, which itself represents a window or opening. Together they reinforce the idea of a window as a hole in a wall.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 穴 is a hole, and the bottom 囱 looks like a framed opening with a crossbar. Together they make a window: a hole in the wall with a frame.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine the soul (ソウ) of the house escaping through the window: soul -> ソウ, and the window lets it out.