臼
mortar
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
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.