吽
bark, growl
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ウン
- イン
- オン
- グ
Kun'yomi
- ほえ.る
Meaning
吽 centers on a deep, guttural animal sound: a bark or a growl. It is the kind of low, rough vocalization a dog or a large animal makes.
Most common words using 吽
- 阿吽あうん
Om; Aun; syllable representing the primordial trinity of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma
- 吽形うんぎょう
closed-mouthed form (statue with closed mouth, symbolizing the "um" half of "aum")
- 阿吽の呼吸あうんのこきゅう
the harmonizing, mentally and physically, of two parties engaged in an activity; singing from the same hymn-sheet; dancing to the same beat
- 阿毘羅吽欠あびらうんけん
a-bi-ra-un-ken (mantra directed to Vairocana)
Study
Etymology
吽 combines 口 (mouth) with 牛 (cow), suggesting the sound a cow or similar animal makes. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure is plausible.
Meaning mnemonic
A mouth 口 next to a cow 牛: imagine a cow opening its mouth and letting out a low, rumbling growl or bark.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, picture a cow letting out a deep 'kooooow' growl: the 'ko' sound cues コウ while the cow's mouth produces the bark.