藷
potato
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- ショ
- ジョ
Kun'yomi
- いも
Meaning
藷 centers on the potato plant, specifically its edible tuber. The meaning is straightforward and concrete, referring to the vegetable itself.
Most common words using 藷
- 鏡藷かがみいも
Metaplexis japonica
Study
Etymology
藷 is a phono-semantic compound: the grass radical 艹 indicates a plant, while 諸 likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the structure is typical for plant names.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above 諸, like a potato plant growing above ground while the tubers hide below. Think of a potato as the hidden treasure of the plant.
Reading mnemonic
For ショ, imagine a short potato plant: the word 'short' begins with 'sho', cueing ショ. Picture a stubby potato plant with the grass radical on top.