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Kotomora

犀

rhinoceros

StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • サイ
  • セイ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

犀 centers on the rhinoceros, a large thick-skinned animal with one or two horns.

Most common words using 犀

  • 金木犀きんもくせい

    fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus)

  • 犀さい

    rhinoceros

  • インド犀インドさい

    Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis); great one-horned rhinoceros

  • ジャワ犀ジャワさい

    Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

  • スマトラ犀スマトラさい

    Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

  • 木犀もくせい

    fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans); sweet olive

  • 木犀草もくせいそう

    mignonette (Reseda odorata)

  • 烏犀帯うさいたい

    type of leather belt worn with ceremonial court dress and decorated with a rhinoceros horn

  • 烏犀角うさいかく

    black rhinoceros horn

  • 燃犀之明ねんさいのめい

    extraordinary perceptiveness; sharp insight

  • 犀利さいり

    sharp; keen

  • 犀皮さいひ

    rhinoceros hide

  • 犀皮塗りさいひぬり

    Chinese lacquerware technique resulting in a mottled finish

  • 犀角さいかく

    rhinoceros horn

  • 犀鳥さいちょう

    hornbill (any bird of family Bucerotidae)

  • 白犀しろさい

    white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

  • 銀木犀ぎんもくせい

    tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans); fragrant olive; sweet olive

  • 黒犀くろさい

    black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

Explore all words using 犀 →

Study

Etymology

犀 is thought to combine 尸 (here representing a body or hide) with a phonetic element that also suggests the animal's tough skin. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 尸 looks like a thick hide or body, and the lower part suggests the heavy legs and horn of a rhinoceros. Picture a rhino's tough shape under that outer covering.

Reading mnemonic

For サイ, imagine a rhinoceros sighing loudly: sigh -> サイ, as the rhino lets out a deep breath.