凩
wintry wind, (kokuji)
Strokes6
Readings
On'yomi
—
Kun'yomi
- こがらし
Meaning
凩 centers on a cold, harsh wind that strips leaves from trees, specifically the wintry gale known as こがらし. It is a kokuji created in Japan to capture this seasonal wind.
Study
Etymology
凩 is a Japanese kokuji combining ⺇ (wind) with 木 (tree) to depict a wind that blows through trees, specifically the cold wintry wind こがらし.
Meaning mnemonic
The wind enclosure ⺇ wraps around a tree 木. Imagine a fierce winter wind howling through bare branches, the very picture of こがらし.
Reading mnemonic
For こがらし, picture a cold gust stripping a tree: 'co'ld 'ga'le 'ra'kes the 'shi'vering branches — こがらし.