晌
noon, midday, moment, land measure
Strokes10
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- まひる
Meaning
晌 centers on the middle of the day: noon or midday. The meanings 'moment' and 'land measure' are less common and may be separate, unrelated senses.
Study
Etymology
晌 combines 日 (sun) with 向, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of direction or facing. The character originally referred to the time when the sun is directly overhead, i.e., noon.
Meaning mnemonic
The sun 日 faces 向 directly overhead at noon. Picture the sun at its highest point, casting no shadow—that is midday.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine the sun showing its full strength at noon: show -> ショウ, and the sun is directly overhead.