孳
increase, bear children
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- ジ
- シ
Kun'yomi
- う.む
- しげ.る
Meaning
孳 centers on growth through reproduction: increasing in number by bearing children or multiplying. The idea of increase is tied to the natural result of giving birth.
Study
Etymology
孳 combines 兹 (likely phonetic, suggesting increase) with 子 (child), expressing the idea of multiplying through offspring.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 兹 looks like a pair of growing sprouts, and 子 is a child. Picture sprouts multiplying and children being born, both showing increase.
Reading mnemonic
For ジ, imagine a gene (ジ) that causes rapid increase: gene -> ジ, and the gene makes children multiply.