蔲
nutmeg
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
蔲 refers specifically to nutmeg, the spice. It is a rare kanji with no other common meanings.
Most common words using 蔲
- 小豆蔲しょうずく
cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum); cardamon
Study
Etymology
蔲 is a phono-semantic compound with 艹 (grass/plant) and a phonetic component related to 寇. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it likely originated as a specific character for the nutmeg plant.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above a shape that looks like a roof 宀 over an element 元 and an action hand 攵. Imagine a rare spice plant growing under a special roof, harvested by hand: nutmeg.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, picture a nutmeg seed rolling into a cone: cone -> コウ, and the cone shape reminds you of the spice.