鵡
cockatoo
Readings
On'yomi
- ブ
- ム
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
鵡 refers specifically to a cockatoo, a type of crested parrot. The meaning is narrow and concrete, with no broader conceptual center beyond this bird.
Most common words using 鵡
- 鸚鵡おうむ
(large) parrot (incl. the cockatoo)
- 鸚鵡貝おうむがい
chambered nautilus (esp. species Nautilus pompilius)
- 洋鵡ようむ
grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus); African grey parrot
- 梟鸚鵡ふくろうおうむ
kakapo (Strigops habroptila); owl parrot
- 椰子鸚鵡やしおうむ
palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus); goliath cockatoo; great black cockatoo
- 海鸚鵡うみおうむ
parakeet auklet (Aethia psittacula)
- 深山鸚鵡みやまおうま
kea (Nestor notabilis)
Study
Etymology
鵡 is a phono-semantic compound: 鳥 (bird) provides the meaning, and 武 likely contributes the sound. The character was created to name the cockatoo, combining the bird radical with a phonetic element.
Meaning mnemonic
A bird (鳥) with a martial (武) crest: imagine a cockatoo with a striking, warrior-like crest of feathers.
Reading mnemonic
For ブ, picture a cockatoo booing loudly from its perch: boo -> ブ, and the bird's call echoes its reading.