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Kotomora

鮮

fresh, vivid, clear, brilliant, Korea

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 500Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • セン

Kun'yomi

  • あざ.やか

Meaning

鮮 centers on striking, lively quality: something fresh, vivid, clear, or brilliant. The Korea meaning is a specific application of this idea, referring to the country's name.

Most common words using 鮮

20 of 87
  • 北朝鮮きたちょうせん

    North Korea

  • 朝鮮ちょうせん

    Korea

  • 新鮮しんせん
    N3

    fresh

  • 鮮やかあざやか
    N2

    vivid; bright; brilliant; clear; fresh; vibrant

  • 鮮明せんめい
    N1

    vivid; clear; distinct

  • 朝鮮半島ちょうせんはんとう

    Korean peninsula

  • 海鮮かいせん

    seafood

  • 鮮度せんど

    (degree of) freshness

  • 鮮魚せんぎょ

    fresh fish

  • 生鮮せいせん

    fresh

  • 朝鮮日報ちょうせんにっぽう

    The Chosun Ilbo (Korean newspaper)

  • 朝鮮総聯ちょうせんそうれん

    General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (abbr.); Chongryon

  • 新鮮味しんせんみ

    freshness; novelty

  • 鮮せん

    Korea

  • 鮮烈せんれつ

    vivid; striking

  • 鮮血せんけつ

    fresh blood

  • 南朝鮮みなみちょうせん

    South Korea

  • 不鮮明ふせんめい

    blur

  • 朝鮮民主主義人民共和国ちょうせんみんしゅしゅぎじんみんきょうわこく

    Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea); DPRK

  • 朝鮮中央通信ちょうせんちゅうおうつうしん

    Korean Central News Agency

Explore all words using 鮮 →

Study

Etymology

鮮 combines 魚 (fish) and 羊 (sheep), likely suggesting the fresh, vivid quality of raw meat or food. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the association with freshness is well established.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a fish (魚) and a sheep (羊) side by side, both so fresh that their colors are vivid and clear. 鮮 means fresh and brilliant.

Reading mnemonic

For セン, imagine a fresh fish and sheep being sold for one cent each: cent -> セン, and the freshness makes them a brilliant deal.