觴
cup
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- さかずき
Meaning
觴 centers on a drinking vessel: a cup, especially one used for serving or toasting with sake or other alcohol.
Most common words using 觴
Study
Etymology
觴 combines 角 (horn, here likely referring to a horn-shaped drinking vessel) with 昜 (minus 一), which may contribute a phonetic element. The character originally denoted a cup made from horn or shaped like one.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 角 suggests a horn-shaped object, and the right side looks like a container with a lid and base. Picture a horn cup filled with drink: 觴 is a cup.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine a showy toast with a horn cup: show -> ショウ, and everyone raises their 觴 in celebration.