胛
shoulder blade
Strokes9
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- かいがらぼね
Meaning
胛 refers specifically to the shoulder blade, the flat bone at the back of the shoulder.
Most common words using 胛
- 胛かいがね
shoulder blade; scapula
Study
Etymology
胛 combines the flesh radical ⺼ with 甲, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a shell-like or flat shape, fitting the shoulder blade.
Meaning mnemonic
The flesh radical ⺼ indicates a body part, and 甲 looks like a flat, shell-like plate. Picture the shoulder blade as a flat shell of flesh on your back.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a coat (コート) hanging on your shoulder blade: coat -> コウ, and the shoulder blade supports it.