鵯
brown eared bulbul
Strokes19
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
- ヒツ
Kun'yomi
- ひよどり
Meaning
鵯 refers specifically to the brown-eared bulbul, a type of bird. The meaning is a single concrete species name rather than a broad conceptual center.
Most common words using 鵯
Study
Etymology
鵯 is a phono-semantic compound: 鳥 (bird) provides the meaning, and 卑 likely contributes the sound ヒ. The character was created to name the brown-eared bulbul.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 卑 looks like a lowly servant, and the right side 鳥 is a bird. Picture a humble little brown-eared bulbul perched quietly, unassuming among flashier birds.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, imagine the bulbul letting out a high-pitched 'hee' call: hee -> ヒ, and the bird chirps from its perch.