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Kotomora

塚

hillock, mound

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 1,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • チョウ

Kun'yomi

  • つか
  • -づか

Nanori

  • ずか
  • つ

Meaning

塚 centers on a raised pile of earth: a small hill, mound, or burial mound. The idea is a man-made or natural heap of soil.

Most common words using 塚

20 of 39
  • 塚つか

    mound; heap; hillock

  • 貝塚かいづか

    shell heap; shell mound; kitchen midden

  • 宝塚歌劇団たからづかかげきだん

    Takarazuka Revue

  • 大塚家具おおつかかぐ

    Ōtsuka Kagu, Ltd

  • 大塚製薬おおつかせいやく

    Otsuka Pharmaceutical

  • 高塚たかつか

    tumulus; burial mound

  • 一里塚いちりづか

    milestone (1 ri apart)

  • 蟻塚ありづか

    anthill

  • モグラ塚モグラづか

    molehill; mole mound

  • 三里塚闘争さんりづかとうそう

    Sanrizuka Struggle; campaign against the construction of Narita airport

  • 供養塚くようづか

    unknown person's grave

  • 円塚まるづか

    round burial mound

  • 塚を築くつかをきずく

    to pile up a mound

  • 塚穴つかあな

    grave

  • 塚造つかつくり

    megapode (any bird of family Megapodiidae, incl. brush turkeys and mallee fowl); mound builder

  • 塵塚ちりづか

    rubbish heap; garbage dump

  • 大塚国際美術館おおつかこくさいびじゅつかん

    Otsuka Museum of Art

  • 宝塚医療大学たからづかいりょうだいがく

    Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care

  • 宝塚大学たからづかだいがく

    Takarazuka University

  • 宝塚線たからづかせん

    Takarazuka Line

Explore all words using 塚 →

Study

Etymology

塚 combines 土 (earth) with 冢, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of a mound or grave. The character is used for earthen mounds, especially burial mounds.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is earth 土, and the right side 冢 looks like a mound with a cover and something buried inside. Picture a small hill of dirt piled up to mark a grave.

Reading mnemonic

For チョウ, imagine a long-serving chief named Chou standing on top of a mound, surveying the land: Chou -> チョウ, and the mound is his lookout point.