姜
Chinese surname, ginger
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
- ガ
Kun'yomi
- こう
Nanori
- かん
Meaning
姜 centers on a Chinese surname and the plant ginger. The two meanings are separate; the surname is a proper noun, while ginger is a specific root used in cooking.
Most common words using 姜
- 生姜しょうが
ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- 乾生姜かんしょうが
powdered ginger
- 生姜しょうきょう
dried ginger root (trad. medicine)
- 生姜湯しょうがゆ
ginger tea
- 生姜焼きしょうがやき
pork fried with ginger
- 生姜茶しょうがちゃ
ginger tea
- 生姜酒しょうがざけ
warm sake with grated ginger (effective against colds)
- 生姜酢しょうがず
vinegar mixed with ginger juice and soy sauce, etc.
- 生姜醤油しょうがしょうゆ
soy sauce mixed with grated ginger
Study
Etymology
姜 is composed of 羊 (sheep) above 女 (woman). It is an ancient Chinese surname, possibly originating from a tribe associated with sheep herding. The ginger meaning is a later borrowing, unrelated to the character's structure.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 under a sheep 羊: imagine a woman from the ancient Jiang clan, known for herding sheep. The ginger meaning is a separate borrowing, but you can picture her holding a ginger root.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a woman named Kyou (キョウ) from the Jiang family, holding ginger: Kyou -> キョウ.