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Kotomora

硨

giant clam, tridacna gigas

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • シャ

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

硨 refers specifically to a giant clam, particularly the species Tridacna gigas. The meaning is narrow and concrete, centered on this large marine bivalve.

Study

Etymology

硨 combines 石 (stone) with 車 (vehicle/cart), likely as a phono-semantic compound where 車 hints at the sound and 石 indicates a stone-like or hard-shelled creature. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a giant clam with a shell as hard as stone (石) and so large you could load it onto a cart (車). The stone cart clam is 硨.

Reading mnemonic

For シャ, imagine a giant clam shell so shiny it reflects the sun like a mirror: shiny shell -> シャ. The clam's hard stone-like surface gleams.