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Kotomora

桒

mulberry

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ

Kun'yomi

  • くわ

Meaning

桒 centers on the mulberry tree, a plant valued for its leaves (used in sericulture) and fruit.

Study

Etymology

桒 is a variant form of 桑 (mulberry). The top component 卉 likely represents the branches and leaves of the mulberry tree, while 木 (tree) at the bottom reinforces the plant meaning. The exact historical development of this variant is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 卉 looks like a cluster of leaves and branches, and the bottom 木 is a tree. Together they form the mulberry tree, whose leaves feed silkworms.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine sewing (ソウ) a silk garment made from mulberry-fed silkworms: sew -> ソウ, and the mulberry tree provides the leaves.