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Kotomora

昳

the declining sun in the west

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • テツ
  • デチ
  • イツ

Kun'yomi

  • かたむ.く

Meaning

昳 centers on the sun declining westward, capturing the moment when daylight fades and the sun sinks toward the horizon.

Study

Etymology

昳 combines 日 (sun) with 失, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character is associated with the sun declining.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 on the left is losing its height, like something 失 (lost) in the sky. Picture the sun slipping away as it declines in the west.

Reading mnemonic

For テツ, imagine the sun setting and a metal tetsu (鉄, iron) bell tolling to mark the end of the day: tetsu -> テツ, as the sun declines.