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Kotomora

犧

sacrifice

Strokes20

Readings

On'yomi

  • ギ
  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • いけにえ

Meaning

犧 centers on offering something valuable, especially an animal, to a deity or higher power: a sacrifice.

Study

Etymology

犧 combines 牜 (cow) with 羲, which likely contributes the sound and relates to a ceremonial or sacrificial context. The exact historical development of 羲 is uncertain, but the character as a whole points to an animal used in ritual offering.

Meaning mnemonic

A cow (牜) is offered in a solemn ceremony (羲 suggests a ritual atmosphere). Picture a decorated ox being led to an altar as a sacrifice.

Reading mnemonic

For ギ, imagine a sacrificial ceremony where the priest wears a long, flowing robe that looks like a giant 'G' (ギ). The 'G' shape cues the reading while the cow is being offered.