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Kotomora

嫄

an ancient emperor's mother's name, Qiang Yuan, consort to Gu

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゲン
  • ガン

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

嫄 is a rare kanji used primarily as a proper name, specifically referring to Qiang Yuan, an ancient Chinese consort. Its meaning is tied to that historical figure rather than a general concept.

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Etymology

嫄 combines 女 (woman) with 原, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created for the personal name Qiang Yuan, so its origin is tied to that specific usage.

Meaning mnemonic

A woman 女 beside 原, like a woman from the plains. Picture the ancient consort Qiang Yuan standing on the open plains.

Reading mnemonic

For ゲン, imagine the consort's name beginning with a hard 'g' sound like in 'get': Gen -> ゲン. Picture her as a gentle but firm figure named Gen.