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Kotomora

堿

salty

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン
  • コン

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

堿 centers on saltiness: a salty taste or quality. The given meaning is narrow, so the core idea is simply the property of being salty.

Study

Etymology

堿 combines 土 (earth) with 咸, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to saltiness or a salty substance found in the earth. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is earth 土, and the right side 咸 looks like a container with a lid. Imagine digging salty earth from the ground and storing it in a container: 堿 means salty.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, picture a can of salty earth: can -> カン, and the earth 土 on the left is full of salt.