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Kotomora

滂

flowing, vast

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ホウ
  • ボウ

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

滂 centers on water in overwhelming abundance: a vast, flowing expanse. The two given meanings are closely linked, with 'flowing' describing the motion and 'vast' describing the scale.

Most common words using 滂

  • 滂沱ぼうだ

    streaming (of tears); pouring

  • 落涙滂沱らくるいぼうだ

    tears streaming down one's cheeks; shedding copious tears

Explore all words using 滂 →

Study

Etymology

滂 combines the water radical 氵 with 旁, which likely contributes the sound. The character is associated with the idea of water spreading or overflowing.

Meaning mnemonic

The water radical 氵 beside 旁 suggests water that spreads out in all directions, like a vast flood flowing across the land.

Reading mnemonic

For ホウ, imagine a vast flowing river that you can hear from far away: the sound 'hoo' (like the wind) echoes across the water, cueing ホウ.