Skip to content
Kotomora

曈

twilight just before sunrise

Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • トウ
  • ツ

Kun'yomi

  • ほのぐら.い

Meaning

曈 centers on the dim, transitional light just before dawn: twilight just before sunrise.

Study

Etymology

曈 combines 日 (sun) with 童, which likely contributes the sound トウ. The character expresses the dim light of early dawn.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 is still low, and the right side 童 suggests a child-like faintness: the light is weak and dim, like twilight just before sunrise.

Reading mnemonic

For トウ, imagine the faint glow of a toe just visible in the dim pre-dawn light: toe -> トウ, and the sun is barely peeking out.