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Kotomora

丨

number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)

Strokes1

Readings

On'yomi

  • コン
  • シ
  • ジョ
  • ニョ

Kun'yomi

  • すす.む
  • しりぞ.く

Meaning

丨 is a simple vertical stroke that represents a line or rod. It is also used as a radical component in other characters, and its meaning 'number one' comes from its use as a tally mark.

Study

Etymology

丨 is a pictograph of a vertical rod or line. Its use as a tally mark for 'one' is ancient, and it serves as a basic stroke in many characters.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a single vertical rod standing upright. It looks like the number one written as a tally mark, and it forms the line radical used in characters like 中.

Reading mnemonic

For コン, imagine a con artist drawing a single vertical line on a contract to trick someone: con -> コン, and the line is the mark of the scam.