鈷
cobalt
Readings
On'yomi
- コ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
鈷 centers on the metallic element cobalt. It is a specialized character used for this chemical element.
Most common words using 鈷
- 三鈷さんこ
trident vajra
- 独鈷とっこ
single-pronged vajra; tokko; dokko; copper or iron implement, pointed at both ends, used in esoteric Buddhist rituals
- 独鈷石とっこいし
ground stone tool from the late Jomon period (named after its similarity to the Buddhist tokko)
- 雷鈷らいこ
ground stone tool from the late Jomon period
- 飛行の三鈷ひぎょうのさんこ
three-pronged vajra flung by Kukai on his return from China to determine the Holy Land of Esoteric Buddhism
Study
Etymology
鈷 combines 金 (metal) with 古, which likely contributes the sound コ. It was created as a character for the element cobalt, following the pattern of using the metal radical for metallic elements.
Meaning mnemonic
The metal radical 金 on the left tells you this is a metal, and the right side 古 (old) hints at an old metal: cobalt has been used since ancient times in pigments and alloys.
Reading mnemonic
For コ, imagine a cobalt-colored coat: coat -> コ, and the metal鈷 is used to make that deep blue coat of paint.