楣
cross-beam above or under a gate
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- ビ
- ミ
Kun'yomi
- ひさし
Meaning
楣 centers on a horizontal structural beam placed above or below a gate, serving as a lintel or threshold support.
Most common words using 楣
- 楣まぐさ
lintel (lacking the grooves needed for a sliding door)
Study
Etymology
楣 combines 木 (wood) with 眉, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the brow-like position of a lintel above an opening. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 木 is wood, and the right side 眉 suggests an eyebrow. Picture a wooden beam sitting like an eyebrow above a gate, forming the cross-beam.
Reading mnemonic
For ビ, imagine a bee buzzing under the wooden beam above the gate: bee -> ビ, and the bee rests on the cross-beam.