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Kotomora

掫

night watch, rake

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ
  • シュウ

Kun'yomi

  • まも.る
  • たきぎ
  • う.つ

Meaning

掫 centers on guarding or gathering: keeping watch at night, or raking things together. The two meanings are not obviously connected, but both involve a hand action—either holding a protective stance or pulling things in.

Study

Etymology

掫 combines 扌 (hand) with 取 (take). The exact historical development is uncertain, but the hand component fits the meanings of guarding or raking.

Meaning mnemonic

A hand 扌 beside 取 (take) suggests a hand taking action: either holding a weapon to keep night watch, or raking things together like a hand gathering leaves.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine a guard raking the ground during the night watch, making a soft 'sow' sound as the rake moves: sow -> ソウ.