粽
rice dumplings steamed in bamboo leaves
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- ちまき
Meaning
粽 centers on a specific food: rice dumplings wrapped and steamed in bamboo leaves. The meaning is concrete and narrow, tied to this traditional preparation.
Most common words using 粽
- 粽ちまき
rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves
Study
Etymology
粽 combines 米 (rice) with 宗, which likely contributes the sound ソウ. The character is used specifically for rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is 米 (rice), and the right side 宗 can be thought of as a wrapping or bundle. Picture rice being bundled in bamboo leaves to make a dumpling.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, imagine sewing a bamboo leaf pouch for the rice: sew -> ソウ, and the rice dumpling is wrapped tight.