竃
kitchen stove, furnace, oven, hearth
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- かまど
- かま
- へっつい
Meaning
竃 centers on a contained heat source used for cooking or warming: a kitchen stove, furnace, oven, or hearth. All meanings share the idea of a fixed structure that holds fire for practical use.
Most common words using 竃
Study
Etymology
竃 is a character of uncertain origin. It visually combines 穴 (hole/cavity) with a lower part that resembles 亀 over 土, but this is likely a modern simplification or variant. The historical development is unclear.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 穴 suggests a cavity or opening, and the lower part looks like a turtle 亀 sitting on earth 土. Imagine a turtle-shaped clay oven built into the ground: a hearth with a hole for the fire.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, picture a soul (ソウ) of the hearth: the warm, living spirit of the stove that cooks the food. Soul -> ソウ.