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Kotomora

禊

Shinto purification ceremony

Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ
  • カツ

Kun'yomi

  • みそぎ
  • はら.う

Meaning

禊 centers on a Shinto ritual of cleansing and purification, often involving water, to remove impurity or sin.

Most common words using 禊

  • 禊みそぎ

    purification ceremony (performed with water); ritual purification; ablutions

  • 禊ぐみそぐ

    to ablute; to cleanse (spiritually); to repent

  • 禊教みそぎきょう

    Misogi-kyo (sect of Shinto)

  • 禊祓みそぎはらえ

    ritual purification; cleansing of crimes, impurities, etc.

  • 禊萩みそはぎ

    Lythrum anceps (species of loosestrife)

Explore all words using 禊 →

Study

Etymology

禊 combines 示 (altar, religious ceremony) with 契, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the idea of a pact or binding, suggesting a ritual act of purification.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 示 (altar) and right side 契 (pact) together suggest a sacred pact of cleansing: imagine a Shinto priest performing a purification ceremony at an altar, binding the impurity to be washed away.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, picture a purification ceremony where everyone forms a neat queue (ケイ) to be cleansed: the orderly line cues ケイ while the ritual purifies.