麅
small spotted deer found in N. China
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- ホウ
- ビョウ
Kun'yomi
- おおしか
Meaning
麅 refers to a specific type of small spotted deer native to northern China. The meaning is narrow and zoological, without broader abstract extensions.
Study
Etymology
麅 combines the deer radical 鹿 with the phonetic component 包, suggesting a deer-like animal whose name is related to the sound ホウ. The exact historical development is uncertain, but this phono-semantic structure is typical for animal names.
Meaning mnemonic
A deer 鹿 wrapped in a spotted coat 包: imagine a small deer with a pattern of spots like little parcels all over its body.
Reading mnemonic
For ホウ, picture a small spotted deer letting out a soft 'hou' sound as it calls through the northern Chinese forest: hou -> ホウ.