艸
grass, plants, grass radical (no. 140)
Strokes6
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- くさ
Meaning
艸 centers on grass and plants as a general category. The radical sense is the same grass shape used as a component in other characters.
Most common words using 艸
Study
Etymology
艸 is a pictograph of two grass sprouts growing side by side. The modern form keeps that doubled sprout image clearly.
Meaning mnemonic
See the two sprout shapes as blades of grass growing together: 艸 is grass.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, imagine a field of grass swaying in the wind with a soft 'sow' sound: sow -> ソウ, like the rustle of grass.