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Kotomora

箒

broom

Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ
  • シュウ

Kun'yomi

  • ほうき

Meaning

箒 centers on a tool for sweeping: a broom. The meaning is straightforward and concrete.

Most common words using 箒

  • 箒ほうき
    N3

    broom

  • 刷毛箒はけほうき

    whisk broom

  • 手箒てぼうき

    whisk broom

  • 棕櫚箒しゅろぼうき

    hemp-palm broom

  • 玉箒たまははき

    broom (esp. one for sweeping a silkworm-raising room on the first Day of the Rat of the New Year)

  • 目箒めぼうき

    sweet basil

  • 神目箒かみめぼうき

    holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum); tulasi; thulasi; tulsi

  • 箒木ほうきぎ

    common kochia (Bassia scoparia); burning bush; summer cypress

  • 箒目ほうきめ

    broom marks (on swept ground)

  • 箒茸ほうきたけ

    clustered coral (Ramaria botrytis); pink-tipped coral mushroom

  • 箒草ほうきぐさ

    common kochia (Bassia scoparia); burning bush; summer cypress

  • 箒虫ほうきむし

    phoronid (any wormlike animal of phylum Phoronida)

  • 羽箒はねぼうき

    feather duster; feather brush

  • 羽箒貝はぼうきがい

    Pinna bicolor (species of pen shell)

  • 草箒くさぼうき

    broom

  • 西之島箒蟹にしのしまほうきがに

    Xenograpsus novaeinsularis (crab species)

  • 高野箒こうやぼうき

    Pertya scandens (species of aster)

Explore all words using 箒 →

Study

Etymology

箒 combines 竹 (bamboo) and 帚 (broom), suggesting a broom made from bamboo. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is clear.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 竹 is bamboo, and the bottom 帚 looks like a hand holding a bundle of bristles. Picture a bamboo broom sweeping the floor.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine sweeping with a broom while humming a soft 'so' sound: so -> ソウ, as you sweep away the dust.