莧

edible greens, amaranth

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

カン
ケン

Kun'yomi

ひゆ

Meaning

莧 centers on a specific edible plant: amaranth, a type of leafy green used as food.

Most common words using 莧

莧ひゆ
Joseph's-coat (Amaranthus tricolor); tampala
模様莧もようびゆ
calico plant (Alternanthera ficoidea)
穂長犬莧ほながいぬびゆ
slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis); green amaranth
針莧はりびゆ
spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus); spiny pigweed; prickly amaranth; thorny amaranth

Explore all words using 莧 →

Study

Etymology

莧 combines the grass radical 艹 with 見, likely as a phono-semantic compound where 見 hints at the sound and 艹 indicates a plant. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The grass top 艹 over 見 (see) suggests a plant you can easily spot: amaranth, a common edible green.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a can of amaranth greens: can -> カン, and you see the plant inside.