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Kotomora

曉

dawn, daybreak, clear, explicit

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • キョウ
  • ギョウ

Kun'yomi

  • あかつき
  • さと.る

Nanori

  • あき

Meaning

曉 centers on the first light of day: dawn or daybreak. The extended senses of clear and explicit grow naturally from the idea of things becoming visible and distinct as light arrives.

Study

Etymology

曉 combines 日 (sun) with 堯, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of high or prominent, suggesting the sun rising prominently at dawn.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 rises beside 堯, a shape associated with height. Picture the sun climbing high at dawn, making everything clear and explicit.

Reading mnemonic

For キョウ, imagine the dawn light shining on a 今日 (きょう, today) sign: 今日 -> キョウ, and the new day begins.