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Kotomora

酴

leaven, yeast, wine

Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ト
  • ズ

Kun'yomi

  • さけのもと

Meaning

酴 centers on fermentation: the leaven or yeast that transforms ingredients into wine, and by extension the wine itself.

Study

Etymology

酴 combines 酉 (wine jar, fermentation) with 余, which likely contributes the sound. The character is associated with leaven and fermented wine.

Meaning mnemonic

The wine jar 酉 on the left holds the fermenting mixture, while 余 on the right suggests the extra something—yeast—that makes it bubble into wine.

Reading mnemonic

For ト, picture a toe accidentally dipped into the wine jar: toe -> ト, and the yeast starts working on the toe too.