麒
Chinese unicorn, genius, giraffe, bright, shining
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
麒 centers on a mythical Chinese unicorn-like creature, often associated with brilliance, genius, and auspiciousness. The giraffe sense is a historical extension from early encounters with the animal, while 'bright' and 'shining' reflect the creature's radiant, noble nature.
Most common words using 麒
- 麒麟きりんN1
giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
- マサイ麒麟マサイきりん
masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii); maasai giraffe; Kilimanjaro giraffe
- 木麒麟もっきりん
Barbados shrub (Pereskia aculeata); Barbados gooseberry; leaf cactus; lemonvine
- 深山秋の麒麟草みやまあきのきりんそう
European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea); woundwort
- 秋の麒麟草あきのきりんそう
goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea subsp. asiatica)
- 麒麟も老いぬれば駑馬に劣るきりんもおいぬればどばにおとる
even an outstanding person becomes inferior when getting old
- 麒麟児きりんじ
child prodigy; wonder child
- 麒麟座きりんざ
Camelopardalis (constellation); the Giraffe
- 麒麟羚羊きりんれいよう
gerenuk (Litocranius walleri); Waller's gazelle
- 麒麟草きりんそう
Kamchatka stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum)
- 麒麟菜きりんさい
Eucheuma muricatum (species of red algae)
- 麒麟血きりんけつ
dragon's blood palm (Daemonorops draco); bright red resin used in medicine, dyes, etc.
Study
Etymology
麒 combines 鹿 (deer) and 其 (phonetic component), reflecting a deer-like mythical creature. The character is part of the pair 麒麟 (qilin), a legendary hooved chimerical beast in Chinese mythology.
Meaning mnemonic
A deer-like creature (鹿) with a distinctive body (其) that shines with genius and brightness. Imagine a radiant, giraffe-like unicorn with a glowing aura.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, picture a key (キー) unlocking the secret of the mythical Chinese unicorn. The key reveals its shining, genius nature.