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Kotomora

鉏

hoe, eradicate, eliminate

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショ
  • ソ

Kun'yomi

  • すき

Meaning

鉏 centers on a tool for cutting or clearing: a hoe used to dig up and remove weeds, which extends to the idea of eradicating or eliminating something unwanted.

Study

Etymology

鉏 combines 金 (metal) with 且, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to cutting or clearing. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is metal 金, and the right side 且 looks like a stack of shelves. Picture a metal hoe clearing weeds from a shelf-like garden bed: 鉏 is a hoe that eradicates unwanted plants.

Reading mnemonic

For ショ, imagine a short-handled hoe that makes a sharp 'sho' sound as it slices through weeds: sho -> ショ, and the metal blade eliminates the overgrowth.