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Kotomora

稉

non-glutinous rice

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • うるち
  • ぬか

Meaning

稉 centers on a specific type of rice: non-glutinous rice, the ordinary rice that does not become sticky when cooked.

Study

Etymology

稉 combines the grain radical 禾 with 更, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development of the right-side component is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The grain radical 禾 on the left shows this is about rice. The right side 更 can be thought of as 'again' or 'further,' so imagine ordinary non-glutinous rice being the kind you eat again and again, unlike sticky rice used only for special occasions.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, picture a bowl of non-glutinous rice being stirred with a big spoon that makes a hollow 'koh' sound: koh -> コウ, and the sound echoes as you prepare the everyday rice.