耦
plow side by side, team of two
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- ゴウ
- グ
- グウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
耦 centers on paired or side-by-side action, especially in farming: plowing together as a team of two. The idea extends naturally to any coordinated pair working in tandem.
Study
Etymology
耦 combines 耒 (plow) with 禺, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a pair or coupling. The character originally referred to two people plowing together.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 耒 is a plow, and the right side 禺 looks like a pair of figures working together. Picture two farmers guiding one plow side by side.
Reading mnemonic
For ゴウ, imagine the two farmers shouting 'Go!' in unison as they start plowing: Go -> ゴウ, and they move as a team.