鼹
kind of insectivorous rodent, mole
Strokes23
Readings
On'yomi
- エン
- オン
Kun'yomi
- もぐら
Meaning
鼹 centers on a small burrowing mammal: a mole, specifically a kind of insectivorous rodent that lives underground.
Most common words using 鼹
- 鼹鼠うごろもち
mole
Study
Etymology
鼹 combines 鼠 (rat/mouse) with 晏, which likely contributes the sound. The character is used for a mole, a rodent-like animal.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 鼠 means rat or mouse, and the right side 晏 looks like a sun over a woman, but think of it as a mole poking its head out of a hole. Together, 鼹 is a mole, a rodent that digs tunnels.
Reading mnemonic
For エン, imagine a mole digging an endless tunnel: the 'en' in 'endless' cues エン, and the mole keeps burrowing.