貂
marten, sable
Readings
On'yomi
- チョウ
Kun'yomi
- てん
Meaning
貂 centers on a specific small, fur-bearing animal: the marten, valued for its sable fur. The two meanings are essentially the same animal in different contexts.
Most common words using 貂
- 貂てん
Japanese marten (Martes melampus)
- 対馬貂つしまてん
Tsushima marten (Martes melampus tsuensis, a subspecies of the Japanese marten)
- 松貂まつてん
European pine marten (Martes martes)
- 白貂しろてん
ermine
- 胸白貂むなじろてん
stone marten; beech marten (Martes foina)
- 蝦夷黒貂えぞくろてん
Japanese sable (subspecies of sable native to Hokkaido, Martes zibellina brachyura)
- 黒貂くろてん
sable (Martes zibellina)
Study
Etymology
貂 combines 豸 (beast) with 召, which likely provides the sound. The character originally referred to a type of weasel-like animal, the marten.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 豸 is the beast radical, and the right side 召 looks like a summoning. Imagine summoning a sleek marten from the forest.
Reading mnemonic
For チョウ, picture a marten named Chou (pronounced 'choh') who is summoned by a call: Chou the marten -> チョウ.