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Kotomora

筑

an ancient musical instrument

StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • チク

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • つく
  • づき

Meaning

筑 refers to an ancient Chinese stringed musical instrument, similar to a zither, played by striking the strings with a bamboo stick.

Most common words using 筑

20 of 26
  • 筑後ちくご

    Chikugo (former province located in the south of present-day Fukuoka Prefecture)

  • 筑波大学つくばだいがく

    University of Tsukuba

  • 筑紫つくし

    Tsukushi (former province located in northern Kyūshū; later split into Chikuzen and Chikugo)

  • 筑前ちくぜん

    Chikuzen (former province located in the west of present-day Fukuoka Prefecture)

  • 筑ちく

    zhu (ancient Chinese string instrument)

  • 両筑りょうちく

    Ryōchiku (the two former provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo)

  • 二筑にちく

    Nichiku (the two former provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo)

  • 東京家政学院筑波女子大学とうきょうかせいがくいんつくばじょしだいがく

    Tokyo Kasei Gakuin Tsukuba Women's University

  • 筑前煮ちくぜんに

    chikuzenni; simmered chicken and vegetables; chicken stew with taro, carrot, burdock, etc.

  • 筑州ちくしゅう

    Chikushū (the two former provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo)

  • 筑摩薄荷ちくまはっか

    catnip (Nepeta cataria); catmint

  • 筑波大学病院つくばだいがくびょういん

    Tsukuba University Hospital

  • 筑波大学附属図書館つくばだいがくふぞくとしょかん

    University of Tsukuba Library

  • 筑波大学電子図書館つくばだいがくでんしとしょかん

    Tsukuba University Library digitized Information Public Service; TULIPS

  • 筑波学院大学つくばがくいんだいがく

    Tsukuba Gakuin University

  • 筑波宇宙センターつくばうちゅうセンター

    Tsukuba Space Center

  • 筑波技術大学つくばぎじゅつだいがく

    National University Corporation Tsukuba University of Technology; NTUT

  • 筑波銀行つくばぎんこう

    Tsukuba Bank

  • 筑紫女学園大学ちくしじょがくえんだいがく

    Chikushi Jogakuen University

  • 筑紫石楠花つくししゃくなげ

    Tsukushi rhododendron (Rhododendron metternichii var.)

Explore all words using 筑 →

Study

Etymology

筑 combines 竹 (bamboo) and 巩, which likely represents the action of holding or striking. Together they depict a bamboo-bodied instrument that is struck to produce sound.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 竹 is bamboo, and the bottom 巩 looks like a hand holding a stick. Imagine an ancient musician holding a bamboo stick to strike the strings of a bamboo zither: 筑.

Reading mnemonic

For チク, picture the sound of the instrument: a quick 'chiku' as the bamboo stick hits the strings. The sharp 'chiku' sound cues チク.