棹
pole a boat
Readings
On'yomi
- トウ
- タク
Kun'yomi
- さお
- こ.ぐ
Meaning
棹 centers on a long pole used to propel or steer a boat, essentially a punting pole or oar.
Most common words using 棹
- 中棹ちゅうざお
shamisen with a medium-sized neck
- 太棹ふとざお
shamisen with a thick neck
- 棹さすさおさす
to pole (a boat); to punt (a boat)
- 棹歌とうか
boatmen's song
- 棹物さおもの
saomono; Japanese sweets in the form of long blocks (e.g. yokan, uiro)
- 棹物菓子さおものがし
Japanese sweets in the form of long blocks (e.g. yokan, uiro)
- 棹立ちさおだち
bolting upright; rearing up (horse)
- 細棹ほそざお
shamisen with a thin neck
Study
Etymology
棹 combines 木 (tree/wood) with 卓, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of something tall or outstanding, together suggesting a long wooden pole.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is wood 木, and the right side 卓 suggests something tall. Picture a tall wooden pole used to push a boat through the water.
Reading mnemonic
For トウ, imagine using the pole to push off from the toe of the riverbank: toe -> トウ, and the boat glides forward.