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Kotomora

柝

sounding sticks

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • タク

Kun'yomi

  • ひょうしぎ

Meaning

柝 centers on wooden sticks struck together to produce a sharp sound, used for signaling or keeping rhythm.

Most common words using 柝

  • 柝き

    wooden clappers (signalling the beginning or end of a performance)

  • 撃柝げきたく

    striking of clappers; night watch (while striking clappers)

  • 柝が入るきがはいる

    clapping with wooden clappers (to signal the beginning or end of a performance)

Explore all words using 柝 →

Study

Etymology

柝 combines 木 (tree/wood) with 斥, which likely contributes the sound. The character represents wooden sounding sticks.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 木 is wood, and the right side 斥 looks like an axe splitting wood. Imagine splitting a log into two sticks that you clap together to make a sharp sound.

Reading mnemonic

For タク, picture clapping two wooden sticks with a sharp 'tack' sound: tack -> タク, and the sound echoes through the night.