莢
pod, hull, husk, shell, case
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
Kun'yomi
- さや
Meaning
莢 centers on the protective outer covering of seeds or fruit: a pod, hull, husk, shell, or case that encloses something.
Most common words using 莢
- 薬莢やっきょう
cartridge case
- 莢さや
pod (e.g. a pea pod); shell; hull
- 排莢はいきょう
ejection (of spent shell casings)
- 排莢桿筒はいきょうかんとう
ejector tube; ejector housing (revolver)
- 深山莢蒾みやまがまずみ
Wright viburnum (viburnum wrightii)
- 皀莢さいかち
honey locust (Gleditsia japonica)
- 空薬莢からやっきょう
spent shell casing; empty cartridge
- 莢膜きょうまく
(bacterial) capsule
- 莢豆さやまめ
legume; legumen; leguminous plant
- 莢隠元さやいんげん
green beans; French beans; string beans
Study
Etymology
莢 combines the plant radical 艹 with 夾, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of something enclosing or pinching, like a pod holding seeds.
Meaning mnemonic
The plant top 艹 sits above 夾, which looks like a person with something tucked under each arm. Picture a plant whose seed pods are held tightly like items squeezed under the arms.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a pod that makes a crisp 'kyow' sound when you snap it open: kyow -> キョウ, and the pod splits to reveal the seeds inside.