鋤
spade up, plow
Readings
On'yomi
- ジョ
- ショ
- ソ
Kun'yomi
- す.く
- すき
- くわ
Meaning
鋤 centers on turning over soil with a tool: spading up earth or plowing a field.
Most common words using 鋤
- 鋤すき
spade
- 唐鋤からすき
plow (esp. horse or ox-drawn); plough
- 唐鋤星からすきぼし
Chinese "Three Stars" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
- 鋤き起こすすきおこす
to turn over soil; to dig or plow up (plough)
- 鋤き返すすきかえす
to plow (up); to plough (up)
- 鋤くすく
to plough; to plow; to hoe; to till
- 鋤簾じょれん
(long-handled) bamboo winnow used to sift earth or sand
- 鋤足蛙すきあしがえる
spadefoot toad (Pelobatidae spp.)
- 鋤鍬すきくわ
farming implement
- 鋤骨じょこつ
vomer (bone of the skull)
- 鋤鼻器じょびき
vomeronasal organ
- 雪鋤ゆきすき
removing snow (e.g. from a roof)
- 饂飩鋤うどんすき
seafood and vegetables cooked sukiyaki style and served with udon
Study
Etymology
鋤 combines 金 (metal) with 助, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of assisting or helping, suggesting a metal tool that helps with working the soil.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is metal 金, and the right side is 助 (help). Picture a metal spade helping you turn the earth.
Reading mnemonic
For ジョ, imagine a farmer named Joe who loves to plow: Joe -> ジョ, and his metal spade helps him spade up the field.