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Kotomora

鮴

bullhead, rockfish, razor clam, flathead, (kokuji)

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Readings

On'yomi

—

Kun'yomi

  • めばる
  • まて
  • こち
  • ごり

Meaning

鮴 is a kokuji (Japan-made kanji) that names several unrelated aquatic creatures: bullhead, rockfish, razor clam, and flathead. There is no single conceptual center; it is a character assigned to these specific fish and shellfish names.

Most common words using 鮴

  • 鮴ごり

    freshwater goby (any fish of genus Rhinogobius)

  • 墨浮鮴すみうきごり

    floating goby (Gymnogobius petschiliensis)

  • 浮鮴うきごり

    common freshwater goby (Gymnogobius urotaenia)

  • 縞浮鮴しまうきごり

    Gymnogobius opperiens (var. of goby)

  • 鮴押しごりおし

    technique for catching gobies using a straw mat or basket

Explore all words using 鮴 →

Study

Etymology

鮴 is a kokuji created in Japan by combining the fish radical 魚 with 休, likely chosen for its sound to represent the Japanese names of various aquatic animals. The exact historical reasoning is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

A fish 魚 resting 休 at the bottom of the sea—imagine a bullhead or rockfish hiding among rocks, or a razor clam buried in the sand.

Reading mnemonic

For めばる, picture a fish resting on a meager bar of sand: meager bar -> めばる, and the fish is a rockfish or bullhead.