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Kotomora

稊

darnels, tares

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • テイ
  • ダイ

Kun'yomi

  • いぬびえ

Meaning

稊 refers to darnels or tares, which are weedy grasses that grow among grain crops. The core idea is a plant that resembles a useful crop but is actually a harmful weed.

Study

Etymology

稊 combines 禾 (grain plant) with 弟, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a weed resembling grain, fitting the plant radical.

Meaning mnemonic

The grain plant radical 禾 on the left is paired with 弟 on the right. Imagine a younger brother (弟) among the grain stalks—he looks like part of the crop but is actually a useless weed.

Reading mnemonic

For テイ, picture a tea plant (ティー) growing among the grain, but it's actually a darnel weed: tea -> テイ, and the weed is hidden in the crop.