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Kotomora

榖

paper mulberry

Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • コク
  • コウ
  • ク

Kun'yomi

  • こうぞ

Meaning

榖 refers specifically to the paper mulberry tree, a plant used in papermaking.

Study

Etymology

榖 combines 木 (tree) with a phonetic component that historically included 殳 and the upper elements. The right side likely contributed the sound while 木 indicates a type of tree.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is 木 (tree). The right side looks like a complex tool for beating fibers. Picture a paper mulberry tree being processed into paper: the tree provides the bark, and the tool-like shape on the right represents the beating process.

Reading mnemonic

For コク, imagine a cook using paper mulberry bark to make a special paper: cook -> コク, and the cook works with the tree.