舳
bow, prow
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Readings
On'yomi
- ジク
- チク
- チュウ
Kun'yomi
- へ
- へさき
Meaning
舳 centers on the front part of a ship: the bow or prow, the leading edge that cuts through water.
Most common words using 舳
Study
Etymology
舳 combines 舟 (boat) with 由, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically denotes the bow or prow of a vessel.
Meaning mnemonic
The boat radical 舟 on the left and 由 on the right can be seen as the reason (由) a boat (舟) has a pointed front: to cut through water. Picture the bow as the boat's leading reason.
Reading mnemonic
For ジク, imagine the bow of a ship jutting out like a jig: jig -> ジク, and the prow jigs forward through the waves.