鞨
leather boots, drum, tribe name
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- カツ
- ガチ
- セツ
- ゼチ
Kun'yomi
- かわぐつ
Meaning
鞨 centers on leather items, especially boots, and by extension a drum made with leather. The tribe name is a specific historical reference rather than a core meaning.
Most common words using 鞨
- 靺鞨まっかつ
Mohe (one of the Tungusic-speaking tribes)
Study
Etymology
鞨 combines 革 (leather) with 曷, which likely contributes the sound. The character is associated with leather boots and a historical tribe name.
Meaning mnemonic
Leather 革 on the left, and the right side looks like a person wearing tall boots. Picture sturdy leather boots being pulled on.
Reading mnemonic
For カツ, imagine cutting leather to make boots: cut -> カツ, and the leather is shaped into boots.