萱
miscanthus reed
Readings
On'yomi
- ケン
Kun'yomi
- かや
- かんぞう
Nanori
- か
Meaning
萱 refers to a specific type of tall grass: the miscanthus reed, often used for thatching or as ornamental grass.
Most common words using 萱
- 刈萱かるかや
Themeda triandra var. japonica (variety of kangaroo grass)
- 浜萱草はまかんぞう
orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva var. littorea); tawny daylily
- 萱堂けんどう
mother
- 萱草かんぞう
daylily (any flower of the family Hemerocallis); day lily
- 萱鼠かやねずみ
harvest mouse (Mus minutus)
- 藪萱草やぶかんぞう
orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva var. kwanso); tawny daylily
- 野萱草のかんぞう
orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva var. disticha); tawny daylily
- 雄刈萱おがるかや
Cymbopogon tortilis var. goeringii (variety of grass closely related to lemongrass)
- 雌刈萱めがるかや
Themeda triandra var. japonica (variety of kangaroo grass)
Study
Etymology
萱 combines the grass radical 艹 with 宣, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically denotes the miscanthus reed.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above 宣, like tall miscanthus reeds growing over a roof-like structure, ready for thatching.
Reading mnemonic
For ケン, picture Ken (a person named Ken) cutting tall miscanthus reeds with a scythe: Ken -> ケン, and the reeds fall like the grass under 艹.