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Kotomora

涉

ford stream, wade across

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

  • わたる
  • かかわる

Meaning

涉 centers on moving through water on foot: fording a stream or wading across. The idea extends naturally to any shallow crossing.

Study

Etymology

涉 combines 氵 (water) with 步 (step, walk), suggesting stepping through water. The modern form is a simplified version of an older character that also involved water and walking.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 on the left and walking 步 on the right: picture yourself stepping carefully through a shallow stream, wading across.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, imagine a show where performers wade dramatically across a stage stream: show -> ショウ, and the water splashes as they ford it.