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Kotomora

簳

shaft of an arrow

Strokes19

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン

Kun'yomi

  • しの
  • やがら

Meaning

簳 refers specifically to the shaft of an arrow, the long straight part between the tip and the fletching.

Study

Etymology

簳 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 幹 (trunk, stem), suggesting a bamboo shaft. The character likely developed as a specific term for an arrow shaft made from bamboo.

Meaning mnemonic

Bamboo 竹 on top of a trunk-like shape 幹: imagine a straight bamboo stalk being used as the shaft of an arrow.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, picture a can of arrows with bamboo shafts: can -> カン, and each arrow has a straight 簳.