Skip to content
Kotomora

晗

pre-dawn

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン
  • ゴン

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

晗 centers on the moment just before sunrise: the pre-dawn twilight when light begins to appear but the sun is not yet visible.

Study

Etymology

晗 combines 日 (sun) with 含, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of containing or holding in. The character suggests the sun still contained below the horizon, i.e., pre-dawn.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 is still contained 含 below the horizon. Picture the sky brightening but the sun itself not yet visible: that is the pre-dawn moment.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a can of light waiting to be opened at dawn: can -> カン, and the sun is still contained inside.