葫
garlic
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- コ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
葫 centers on garlic, the bulbous plant. The meaning is specific to this allium, often used in cooking and medicine.
Most common words using 葫
- 葫蘆ころ
calabash (Lagenaria siceraria)
Study
Etymology
葫 combines the grass radical 艹 with 胡, which likely provides the sound コ. The character was created to name the garlic plant, using a phonetic component.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above 胡, like garlic bulbs growing under their green leaves. Picture the plant sprouting from the ground.
Reading mnemonic
For コ, imagine a clove of garlic being called a 'co'-ve: co -> コ, and the garlic clove is the heart of the plant.