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Kotomora

楥

last for making shoes, to turn on a lathe

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケン
  • カン
  • エン

Kun'yomi

  • かた

Meaning

楥 centers on a specialized tool used in shaping: a last for making shoes, or the action of turning on a lathe. Both meanings involve a wooden form or rotational shaping process.

Study

Etymology

楥 combines 木 (wood) with 爰, which likely contributes the sound. The character refers to a wooden last or lathe, consistent with the wood radical.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 木 is wood, and the right side 爰 looks like a hand holding something over a support. Picture a wooden last (楥) being used to shape a shoe, or wood spinning on a lathe.

Reading mnemonic

For ケン, imagine a skilled cobbler named Ken who uses a wooden last to make shoes: Ken -> ケン, and his tool is 楥.