湘
name of Chinese river, the Sagami river
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
湘 is a kanji used primarily for river names, specifically a river in China and the Sagami River in Japan. Its meaning is tied to these geographical references rather than a general concept.
Most common words using 湘
- 湘北短期大学しょうほくたんきだいがく
Shouhoku Junior College
- 湘南ゴールドしょうなんゴールド
Shonan Gold (hybrid Japanese citrus)
- 湘南モノレールしょうなんモノレール
Shōnan Monorail
- 湘南医療大学しょうなんいりょうだいがく
Shonan University of Medical Sciences
- 湘南工科大学しょうなんこうかだいがく
Shonan Institute of Technology
- 湘南鎌倉医療大学しょうなんかまくらいりょうだいがく
Shonan Kamakura University of Medical Sciences
- 湘南電車しょうなんでんしゃ
Shonan train; medium-distance train on the eastern Tokaido Main Line (coloured green and orange)
- 湘語しょうご
Xiang Chinese (language); Hunanese
Study
Etymology
湘 combines the water radical 氵 with 相, which likely contributes the sound. It was created to name rivers, with 氵 indicating a body of water.
Meaning mnemonic
The water radical 氵 beside 相 (mutual, minister) suggests a river that connects places or is important enough to be named. Think of the Sagami River flowing through Kanagawa.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine the river's surface reflecting a show of lights: show -> ショウ, and the water 氵 mirrors the spectacle.