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Kotomora

鶱

soar

Strokes21

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケン
  • コン

Kun'yomi

  • とぶ

Meaning

鶱 centers on the action of flying upward or soaring, specifically describing a bird taking flight and rising high.

Study

Etymology

鶱 combines 鳥 (bird) with a phonetic component that likely contributed the sound and the idea of rising or flying upward. The exact historical development of the upper component is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The bottom part is 鳥 (bird). The upper part looks like a roof with something inside, but imagine it as a bird bursting upward from under a cover, soaring into the sky.

Reading mnemonic

For ケン, picture a soaring bird that looks like a kite, and think of the English word 'kite' but with a 'ken' sound: ken -> ケン. The bird soars high like a kite.