樒
tree whose branches are placed on Buddhist graves
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- ミツ
Kun'yomi
- しきみ
- じんこう
Meaning
樒 refers to a specific tree, the Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), whose aromatic branches are traditionally placed on Buddhist graves as an offering.
Most common words using 樒
Study
Etymology
樒 combines the tree radical 木 with 密, which likely contributes the sound ミツ. The character was created to name this specific tree.
Meaning mnemonic
A tree (木) with dense, secret-like (密) foliage: the 樒 tree, whose branches are used in secretive Buddhist grave rituals.
Reading mnemonic
For ミツ, imagine the dense (密, みつ) branches of the 樒 tree being placed on a grave: 密 -> ミツ, and the tree's reading follows.