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Kotomora

翠

green, kingfisher

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • スイ

Kun'yomi

  • かわせみ
  • みどり

Nanori

  • あきら

Meaning

翠 centers on a vivid blue-green color, like the feathers of a kingfisher. The bird meaning is a specific application of that same striking color.

Most common words using 翠

  • 翡翠かわせみ

    kingfisher (esp. the common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis)

  • 翡翠しょうびん

    kingfisher

  • 翡翠ひすい

    jade (stone)

  • 翠玉すいぎょく

    emerald

  • 山翡翠やませみ

    crested kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris)

  • 翠屋みどりや

    Midoriya

  • 翠嵐すいらん

    the sense of being engulfed in a green, mountainous atmosphere

  • 翠微すいび

    approx. 80% of the way up a mountainside

  • 翠明荘すいめいそう

    Suimeiso (hotel and restaurant chain - suimeiso.co.jp)

  • 翠松すいしょう

    verdant pine; green pine

  • 翠緑すいりょく

    green (esp. of trees, rocks, etc.)

  • 翠色すいしょく

    green (of lush vegetation); verdure

  • 翠銅鉱すいどうこう

    dioptase

  • 翠黛すいたい

    green eyebrow pencil; green-shaded eyebrows

  • 翡翠色ひすいいろ

    jade green

  • 蒼翠そうすい

    blue-green

  • 赤翡翠あかしょうびん

    ruddy kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda)

Explore all words using 翠 →

Study

Etymology

翠 combines 羽 (feathers) with 卒, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to the kingfisher's blue-green plumage.

Meaning mnemonic

Feathers 羽 on top of a soldier 卒: imagine a soldier wearing a helmet adorned with brilliant kingfisher feathers, the vivid green standing out against the armor.

Reading mnemonic

For スイ, picture a kingfisher diving into a Swiss lake: Swiss -> スイ, and the bird's green feathers flash in the water.