菫
the violet
Readings
On'yomi
- キン
Kun'yomi
- すみれ
Meaning
菫 centers on the violet flower. The given meaning is simply 'the violet', referring to the plant itself.
Most common words using 菫
- 菫すみれ
violet (any flower of genus Viola, esp. the Fuji dawn, Viola mandshurica)
- アフリカ菫アフリカすみれ
African violet
- 匂菫においすみれ
sweet violet (Viola odorata)
- 叡山菫えいざんすみれ
Viola eizanensis (flower in the violet family)
- 菫細辛すみれさいしん
Viola vaginata (violet species)
- 菫青石きんせいせき
cordierite
- 虫取菫むしとりすみれ
common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris)
- 蝦夷菫えぞすみれ
Viola eizanensis (flower in the violet family)
- 顎菫あぎすみれ
Viola verecunda (violet species)
- 麓菫ふもとすみれ
Viola sieboldii (violet species)
Study
Etymology
菫 combines the grass radical 艹 with a phonetic component that historically represented the sound. The exact origin of the lower part is uncertain, but it likely contributed the reading while the grass radical indicates a plant.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 on top tells you it's a plant. Picture a delicate violet blooming among the grass.
Reading mnemonic
For キン, imagine a violet pinned to a lapel: pin -> キン, and the violet is the flower being pinned.