杭
stake, post, picket
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- くい
Nanori
- わたる
Meaning
杭 centers on a pointed piece of wood driven into the ground: a stake, post, or picket used for support, marking, or fencing.
Most common words using 杭
- 杭くい
stake; post; pile; picket
- 杭州こうしゅう
Hangzhou (China)
- 乱杭らんぐい
stakes planted on the ground or underwater at irregular angles and intervals (to obstruct the enemy)
- 乱杭歯らんぐいば
uneven teeth
- 出る杭は打たれるでるくいはうたれる
the nail that sticks out gets hammered down; people that stick out too much get punished
- 切り杭きりくい
stump
- 支持杭しじぐい
bearing pile
- 杭周面摩擦力くいしゅうめんまさつりょく
pile shaft friction
- 杭打ちくいうち
pile-driving; piling
- 杭打ち機くいうちき
pile driver; pile-driver
- 杭打設くいうちせつ
pile-driving
- 櫓杭ろぐい
fulcrum peg (fitted into the cavity in an oar as part of a traditional oarlock)
- 肉杭にくくい
penis; dick
- 舫い杭もやいぐい
mooring pole
Study
Etymology
杭 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 亢, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a wooden stake or post.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a tree 木, and the right side 亢 looks like a tall, sturdy frame. Picture a wooden stake driven into the ground, standing tall like a post.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a stake being hammered into the ground with a loud 'ko' sound: ko -> コウ, and the wooden post stands firm.