呉
give, do something for, kingdom of Wu
Readings
On'yomi
- ゴ
Kun'yomi
- く.れる
- くれ
Nanori
- ぐ
Meaning
呉 centers on giving or doing something for someone, often with a sense of conferring a benefit. The historical kingdom of Wu is a proper-noun application of the same character.
Most common words using 呉
20 of 22- 呉ご
Wu (region in China, south of the lower Yangtze)
- 呉服ごふく
cloth (for Japanese clothes); kimono fabrics; textile; drapery; dry goods; piece goods
- 呉音ごおん
go-on; Wu reading; on reading of a kanji based on 5th and 6th century Chinese
- 呉竹くれたけ
Henon bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis)
- 呉越同舟ごえつどうしゅう
bitter enemies in the same boat; rivals finding themselves together by chance; strange bedfellows
- 呉の母くれのおも
fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- 呉りゃるくりゃる
to receive from another
- 呉るくる
to give; to let one have; to do for one
- 呉れ手くれて
donor; one who does something for you
- 呉大学くれだいがく
Kure University
- 呉服商ごふくしょう
dry-goods dealer
- 呉服尺ごふくじゃく
fabric shaku (approx. 36.4 cm)
- 呉服屋ごふくや
kimono fabrics shop; draper
- 呉服店ごふくてん
kimono fabrics shop; draper's shop
- 呉服物ごふくもの
piece; dry-goods; piece goods
- 呉汁ごじる
gojiru; miso soup with ground soybeans
- 呉牛ごぎゅう
water buffalo
- 呉牛月に喘ぐごぎゅうつきにあえぐ
to be overanxious; to worry needlessly
- 呉茱萸ごしゅゆ
Tetradium ruticarpum (species of deciduous trees)
- 呉語ごご
Wu Chinese (language); Shanghainese
Study
Etymology
呉 is thought to depict a person with an open mouth, possibly representing giving or bestowing. The exact historical development is uncertain, and the connection to the kingdom of Wu is a later application.
Meaning mnemonic
The top ハ looks like two hands offering something, and the lower 口 is a mouth receiving it. Together, 呉 shows giving or doing something for someone.
Reading mnemonic
For ゴ, imagine giving a gift and saying 'go' as you hand it over: go -> ゴ, and the hands offer it to the mouth.