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Kotomora

葵

hollyhock

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • あおい

Nanori

  • まもる
  • け

Meaning

葵 refers specifically to the hollyhock plant, a tall flowering plant with large leaves. The meaning is concrete and botanical, without broad abstract extensions.

Most common words using 葵

20 of 27
  • 葵あおい

    mallow (any plant of family Malvaceae)

  • 向日葵ひまわり

    sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

  • 山葵わさび
    N1

    wasabi (Wasabia japonica); Japanese horseradish

  • 布袋葵ほていあおい

    common water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes)

  • 三つ葉葵みつばあおい

    wild ginger trefoil family crest (of the Tokugawa clan); triple hollyhock family crest

  • 二葉葵ふたばあおい

    Asarum caulescens (species of wild ginger)

  • 冬葵ふゆあおい

    cluster mallow (Malva verticillata)

  • 天竺葵てんじくあおい

    geranium (Pelargonium inquinans)

  • 姫向日葵ひめひまわり

    cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus cucumerifolius)

  • 寒葵かんあおい

    Asarum nipponicum (species of wild ginger)

  • 山葵の木わさびのき

    horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera); drumstick tree; moringa

  • 山葵田わさびでん

    wetland wasabi terrace

  • 戎葵じゅうき

    hollyhock

  • 水向日葵みずひまわり

    Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides); giant green hygro

  • 水葵みずあおい

    Monochoria korsakowii (species of flowering plant)

  • 白根葵しらねあおい

    Japanese wood poppy (Glaucidium palmatum)

  • 立葵たちあおい

    hollyhock (Alcea rosea); common hollyhock

  • 紅葉葵もみじあおい

    scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus)

  • 花葵はなあおい

    hollyhock (Althaea rosea)

  • 葵の御紋あおいのごもん

    wild ginger trefoil family crest (of the Tokugawa clan); triple hollyhock family crest

Explore all words using 葵 →

Study

Etymology

葵 combines the plant radical 艹 with 癸, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created to name the hollyhock plant.

Meaning mnemonic

The top grass radical 艹 shows it's a plant, and the bottom 癸 looks a bit like a tall stem with leaves. Picture a towering hollyhock growing from the ground.

Reading mnemonic

For キ, imagine a key-shaped hollyhock stem unlocking a garden gate: key -> キ, and the plant is the hollyhock.