哩
mile
StatusJinmeiyōStrokes10
Readings
On'yomi
- リ
Kun'yomi
- まいる
Meaning
哩 centers on the unit of distance 'mile'. It is a specialized character used almost exclusively for this measurement.
Most common words using 哩
- 咖哩カレーN5
curry (esp. Japanese curry)
Study
Etymology
哩 is a modern character created in Japan as a phono-semantic compound: 口 (mouth) suggests a phonetic loan, and 里 (ri) provides the sound for 'mile' (ri). It was coined to represent the English word 'mile' using the existing reading of 里.
Meaning mnemonic
The mouth 口 speaks the distance, and 里 (ri) gives the sound. Together they mark a mile: a spoken 'ri' that means mile.
Reading mnemonic
For リ, the right side 里 already has the on-reading リ. Think of a mile marker with the character 里 on it, and the mouth 口 just confirms the reading: リ.