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Kotomora

罫

ruled line

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ
  • カイ
  • ケ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

罫 centers on a ruled line, the kind used to guide writing or divide a page into orderly rows and columns.

Most common words using 罫

  • 罫線けいせん

    ruled line; rule

  • 罫けい

    rule; (ruled) line

  • 折罫おりけい

    crease (used as a writing guide); creasing; crease line

  • 罫引きけびき

    line-marking gauge

  • 罫書きけがき

    marking (off); laying out; scribing (metalwork)

  • 罫紙けいし

    ruled paper; lined paper

  • 罫線を引くけいせんをひく

    to rule a line; to draw a line

  • 罫線表けいせんひょう

    chart (showing price movements)

Explore all words using 罫 →

Study

Etymology

罫 combines 罒 (net) with 卦 (divination sign), but the exact historical development is uncertain. The modern meaning of ruled line may derive from the idea of a net-like grid.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 罒 looks like a net of horizontal and vertical lines, and the bottom 卦 resembles a set of marks. Together they suggest a ruled line drawn to create a grid.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a ruler making a crisp, straight line with a sharp 'kay' sound: kay -> ケイ, like the edge of a ruled line.