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Kotomora

苔

moss, lichen

StatusJinmeiyōStrokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • タイ

Kun'yomi

  • こけ
  • こけら

Meaning

苔 centers on small, low-growing plants that form green coverings on surfaces: moss and lichen.

Most common words using 苔

20 of 60
  • 苔こけ

    moss

  • 海苔のり
    N1

    nori; laver; edible seaweed, usu. Porphyra yezoensis or P. tenera, usu. dried and pressed into sheets

  • 苔桃こけもも

    lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea); cowberry

  • 苔むすこけむす

    to become covered in moss; to become mossy; to grow over with moss

  • もみ海苔もみのり

    crumbled grilled nori

  • アイスランド苔アイスランドごけ

    Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica); Iceland lichen

  • 丹波海苔たんばのり

    Grateloupia elliptica (species of red alga)

  • 乾海苔ほしのり

    dried edible seaweed

  • 依蘭苔えいらんたい

    Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica); Iceland lichen

  • 千島黒海苔ちしまくろのり

    Pyropia kurogii (species of red algae)

  • 味付け海苔あじつけのり

    seasoned nori

  • 団扇苔うちわごけ

    tiny bristle fern (Crepidomanes minutum)

  • 大杉苔おおすぎごけ

    bank haircup moss (Polytrichastrum formosum)

  • 岩海苔いわのり

    wild harvested nori

  • 布海苔ふのり

    funori; glue plant; marine alga of the genus Gloiopeltis

  • 幅海苔はばのり

    Petalonia binghamiae (edible species of brown algae)

  • 恵胡海苔えごのり

    Campylaephora hypnaeoides (species of red algae); egonori

  • 扁平苔癬へんぺいたいせん

    lichen planus

  • 掃苔そうたい

    visit to a family grave (esp. during the Bon festival)

  • 新海苔しんのり

    first dried nori after the winter

Explore all words using 苔 →

Study

Etymology

苔 combines the plant radical 艹 with 台, which likely contributes the sound. The character refers to moss or lichen, small plants that grow on surfaces.

Meaning mnemonic

The plant top 艹 over 台 suggests a green platform of moss covering a surface like a soft carpet.

Reading mnemonic

For タイ, imagine a mossy garden tied together with a neat tie: tie -> タイ, and the moss holds the garden together.