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Kotomora

臼

mortar

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • キュウ
  • グ

Kun'yomi

  • うす
  • うすづ.く

Meaning

臼 centers on a mortar: a sturdy bowl-shaped vessel used for grinding or pounding, especially in traditional grain processing.

Most common words using 臼

20 of 33
  • 臼うす

    millstone; mortar

  • 脱臼だっきゅう

    dislocation

  • 臼歯きゅうし

    molar (tooth); grinder; premolar

  • 石臼いしうす

    stone mortar; millstone; quern

  • 茶臼ちゃうす

    tea grinding mortar (hand mill)

  • 上臼うわうす

    upper millstone

  • 下臼したうす

    lower millstone; nether millstone

  • 亜脱臼あだっきゅう

    subluxation

  • 先天性股関節脱臼せんてんせいこかんせつだっきゅう

    congenital dislocation of the hip; developmental dysplasia of the hip

  • 六歳臼歯ろくさいきゅうし

    six-year molar

  • 前臼歯ぜんきゅうし

    premolar

  • 厚臼あつうす

    stone hand mill

  • 唐臼からうす

    mortar

  • 大臼歯だいきゅうし

    molar

  • 寛骨臼かんこつきゅう

    acetabulum; cotyloid cavity

  • 寛骨臼蓋かんこつきゅうがい

    acetabular roof

  • 小臼歯しょうきゅうし

    premolar

  • 平臼ひらうす

    horizontal stone hand mill

  • 後臼歯こうきゅうし

    molar

  • 挽き臼ひきうす

    quern; hand mill

Explore all words using 臼 →

Study

Etymology

臼 is a pictograph of a mortar, with the modern form showing the hollow interior and the two side walls.

Meaning mnemonic

The shape looks like a mortar with its hollow center and two side walls. Picture grains being pounded inside.

Reading mnemonic

For キュウ, imagine a mortar so old it's been used for a 'queue' of generations: queue -> キュウ, and the mortar keeps grinding.