彦
lad, boy (ancient)
Readings
On'yomi
- ゲン
Kun'yomi
- ひこ
Nanori
- よし
- こ
- ひろ
- やす
Meaning
彦 centers on a young male person, specifically a lad or boy in an ancient or classical context. The meaning is narrow and refers to a youthful male figure.
Most common words using 彦
- 彦ひこ
boy
- 俊彦しゅんげん
gifted man; accomplished man
- 山彦やまびこ
echo (esp. one reverberating in the mountains)
- 彦星ひこぼし
Altair (star in the constellation Aquila); Alpha Aquilae
- 猿田彦さるたひこ
Sarutahiko (deity)
- 猿田彦の命さるたひこのみこと
Saruta Hiko no Mikoto (Shintō god)
- 袁彦道えんげんどう
gambling
- 諸彦しょげん
many accomplished persons
- 長髄彦ながすねひこ
Nagasunehiko; legendary clan leader who opposed Emperor Jimmu's unification of Japan and was subsequently killed by the deity Nigihayahi
Study
Etymology
彦 is thought to combine 产 (a variant of 立, standing) with 彡 (hair or decoration), possibly depicting a standing figure with styled hair, representing a young man or lad. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 产 looks like a person standing tall, and the three strokes 彡 suggest styled hair or youthful decoration. Together they picture a young lad with a proud stance and fancy hair.
Reading mnemonic
For ゲン, imagine a young lad named Gen standing proudly with his styled hair: Gen -> ゲン, and he is the boy 彦.