裊
curling upwards, wavering gently
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- チョウ
- ジョウ
- ニョウ
Kun'yomi
- しなや.か
Meaning
裊 centers on a soft, upward movement: something curling upwards or wavering gently, like smoke or a delicate fabric.
Study
Etymology
裊 combines 衣 (clothing) with a phonetic element that likely depicted a bird, suggesting the soft, curling movement of fabric or smoke. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The bottom 衣 is clothing, and the top looks like a bird with feathers curling upward. Imagine a silk robe fluttering gently in the breeze, its edges curling and wavering.
Reading mnemonic
For チョウ, picture a long, curling ribbon dancing in the wind, and call it a 'Chou' ribbon: Chou -> チョウ, curling upwards like the kanji's meaning.