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Kotomora

楮

paper mulberry

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • チョ

Kun'yomi

  • こうぞ

Meaning

楮 refers specifically to the paper mulberry tree, a plant whose bark is used to make traditional Japanese paper (washi).

Most common words using 楮

  • 楮こうぞ

    kozo (Broussonetia kazinoki x papyrifera); Japanese paper mulberry tree

  • 姫楮ひめこうぞ

    Broussonetia kazinoki (species of mulberry)

  • 楮紙こうぞがみ

    kozo (paper); kōzogami; Japanese tissue made from the bark fibre of a paper mulberry tree

Explore all words using 楮 →

Study

Etymology

楮 combines 木 (tree) with 者, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created to name the paper mulberry tree.

Meaning mnemonic

The tree radical 木 beside 者 suggests a specific tree: the paper mulberry. Imagine a craftsman (者) harvesting bark from this tree to make paper.

Reading mnemonic

For チョ, picture a paper mulberry tree growing in a small, tidy garden: the word 'chore' (チョ) reminds you of the careful work of making paper from its bark.