筈
notch of an arrow, ought, must, should be, expected
Readings
On'yomi
- カツ
Kun'yomi
- はず
- やはず
Meaning
筈 centers on the notch of an arrow, the groove that fits onto the bowstring. The abstract meanings of 'ought', 'must', and 'expected' come from the idea of something fitting exactly as it should, like an arrow nocked in place.
Most common words using 筈
- 筈はずN4
should (be); bound (to be); expected (to be); must (be)
- 矢筈やはず
nock of an arrow
- その筈そのはず
only natural; no wonder; as expected; of course; as it should be
- 矢筈模様やはずもよう
herring-bone pattern; herringbone pattern
- 矢筈豌豆やはずえんどう
common vetch (Vicia sativa); tare
- 筈がないはずがない
it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ...
- 筈ないはずない
it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ...
- 筈のないはずのない
that is not supposed to ...; that ought not to ...; that should never ...; that cannot possibly ...
- 筈緒はずお
hemp rope fastened from the bow of a Japanese ship to the tip of the mast
Study
Etymology
筈 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 舌 (tongue), likely representing a bamboo arrow notch. The phonetic role of 舌 is uncertain, but the character is associated with the notch of an arrow.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 竹 suggests bamboo, from which arrows are made, and the bottom 舌 looks like a tongue-shaped notch. Picture a bamboo arrow with a tongue-like groove at the end, fitting perfectly onto the bowstring.
Reading mnemonic
For カツ, imagine an arrow notch that fits so snugly it makes a sharp 'cuts' sound when released: cuts -> カツ, and the arrow flies exactly as expected.