莱
goosefoot, pigweed
Readings
On'yomi
- ライ
- リ
Kun'yomi
- あかざ
- あわち
- こうがい
Meaning
莱 refers to weedy plants of the goosefoot and pigweed family, often found in fields or waste places. The meaning is specific to these plants and does not extend to broader abstract ideas.
Most common words using 莱
- 蓬莱ほうらい
Mount Penglai; Penglai Island; enchanted land of perpetual youth from Chinese mythology
- 三蓬莱さんほうらい
the three sacred mountains: Fuji, Atsuta, and Kumano
- 撒奇莱雅サキザヤ
Sakizaya (people)
- 蓬莱竹ほうらいちく
hedge bamboo (Bambusa multiplex); golden goddess bamboo
- 蓬莱羊歯ほうらいしだ
Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris); black maidenhair fern; Venus hair fern
- 蓬莱蕉ほうらいしょう
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa); split-leaf philodendron; cerimen; Mexican breadfruit; fruit salad plant
- 蓬莱飾りほうらいかざり
Kansai New Year decoration (made from food)
- 蓬莱鱛ほうらいえそ
Sloane's viperfish (Chauliodus sloani)
Study
Etymology
莱 combines the grass radical 艹 with 来, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character is used for weedy plants, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 on top of 来 (come) suggests weeds that come up in unwanted places: goosefoot and pigweed.
Reading mnemonic
For ライ, imagine a field of pigweed lying in wait: lying -> ライ, and the weeds lie low in the grass.