袈
a coarse camlet
Readings
On'yomi
- ケ
- カ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
袈 refers to a coarse, rough-woven fabric, specifically a type of camlet. Its meaning is narrow and tied to a specific textile.
Most common words using 袈
- 袈裟けさ
kasaya; monk's stole
- 坊主憎けりゃ袈裟まで憎いぼうずにくけりゃけさまでにくい
if you dislike someone, you will end up hating everything he stands for; hate a priest, and you will hate his very vestments
- 結袈裟ゆいげさ
three-strand harness or sash decorated with pom-poms (worn by Shugendō practitioners)
- 袈裟固めけさがため
scarf hold (in judo)
- 袈裟懸けけさがけ
wearing a kasaya; wearing an article of clothing in the same manner as a kasaya (i.e. draped over one shoulder)
- 袈裟斬りけさぎり
slashing (someone) with a sword diagonally from the shoulder
- 輪袈裟わげさ
loop-shaped monk's stole
Study
Etymology
袈 combines 衣 (clothing) with 加, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character is used specifically for the coarse fabric 'kasa' in Buddhist robes.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 加 suggests adding or layering, and the bottom 衣 is clothing. Picture a rough, coarse fabric being added as an outer layer—a simple, sturdy camlet garment.
Reading mnemonic
For ケ, imagine a coarse fabric so rough it makes you say 'keh!' in disgust. The sound 'keh' (ケ) sticks to this rough camlet cloth.