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Kotomora

臿

to separate the grain from the husk

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ
  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

  • うすじく

Meaning

臿 centers on the action of separating grain from its husk, a specific agricultural processing step.

Study

Etymology

臿 is thought to depict a pestle (干) inserted into a mortar (臼), representing the action of pounding grain to separate husks. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 干 looks like a pestle, and the bottom 臼 is a mortar. Picture pounding grain in the mortar to separate the husk.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine the sound of grain being pounded: a rhythmic 'sow, sow' as the pestle hits the mortar. Sow -> ソウ.