榴
pomegranate
Readings
On'yomi
- ル
- リュウ
- リョウ
Kun'yomi
- ざくろ
Meaning
榴 centers on the pomegranate fruit, often appearing in the compound 石榴 (ざくろ). Its meaning is specific to this fruit.
Most common words using 榴
- 手榴弾しゅりゅうだん
hand grenade; grenade
- 柘榴ざくろ
pomegranate (Punica granatum)
- 榴弾りゅうだん
high-explosive projectile
- 柘榴口ざくろぐち
low door used in bathhouses to prevent the hot water from cooling (Edo period)
- 柘榴石ざくろいし
garnet
- 榴弾砲りゅうだんほう
howitzer
- 榴散弾りゅうさんだん
shrapnel (shell)
- 榴輝岩りゅうきがん
eclogite
- 灰礬柘榴石かいばんざくろいし
grossular; grossularite
- 灰鉄柘榴石かいてつざくろいし
andradite
- 白榴石はくりゅうせき
leucite
- 紅榴石こうりゅうせき
almandine
- 緑柘榴石みどりざくろいし
grossular
- 苦礬柘榴石くばんざくろいし
pyrope
- 貴柘榴石きざくろいし
almandine
- 鉄礬柘榴石てつばんざくろいし
almandine
Study
Etymology
榴 combines 木 (tree) with 留, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created to name the pomegranate tree.
Meaning mnemonic
A tree 木 with something that looks like a pomegranate on the right: the 留 part resembles a fruit with seeds inside. Picture a pomegranate hanging from a tree.
Reading mnemonic
For ル, imagine a pomegranate rolling off the tree: the rolling sound 'ru' cues ル.