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Kotomora

冲

offing, open sea, rise high into sky

Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • チュウ

Kun'yomi

  • おき
  • おきつ
  • ちゅう.する
  • わく

Meaning

冲 centers on the idea of rising or surging upward, like water rising into the open sea or something soaring high into the sky.

Study

Etymology

冲 is a variant form of 沖, combining 冫 (ice) with 中 (middle). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it likely relates to the idea of water or cold surging upward.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 冫 suggests ice or cold, and the right side 中 suggests the middle. Imagine a geyser of icy water shooting up from the middle of the open sea, rising high into the sky.

Reading mnemonic

For チュウ, picture a huge column of water shooting up in the middle of the sea: the sound of the rushing water is like a long 'chuuu' — チュウ.