夘
sign of the hare or rabbit, fourth sign of Chinese zodiac, 5-7AM, east
Strokes5
Readings
On'yomi
- ボウ
- モウ
Kun'yomi
- う
Nanori
- たかき
Meaning
夘 centers on the fourth sign of the Chinese zodiac, associated with the hare or rabbit, the direction east, and the early morning hours of 5–7 AM.
Study
Etymology
夘 is a variant form of 卯, which is a pictograph of a divided or opening shape, possibly representing a gate or a sacrificial animal. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 夕 suggests evening or early morning, and the right side 卩 looks like a kneeling figure. Picture a rabbit kneeling at dawn, marking the hour of the hare (5–7 AM) in the eastern sky.
Reading mnemonic
For ボウ, imagine a bowing rabbit at dawn: bow -> ボウ, and the rabbit bows to the rising sun in the east.