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Kotomora

韭

leek radical (no. 179)

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • キュウ
  • ク

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

韭 represents a leek or a type of allium vegetable. It is primarily used as a radical in other characters, so its standalone meaning is simply the plant itself.

Study

Etymology

韭 is a pictograph of a leek plant, with the strokes representing the leaves and root. The modern form retains a stylized plant-like shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The character looks like a bundle of long, slender leaves growing upward from the ground. Picture a bunch of leeks standing upright in a garden.

Reading mnemonic

For キュウ, imagine a leek shaped like the letter Q: Q -> キュウ, and the curly tail of the Q resembles the curling leaves of the leek.