苔
moss, lichen
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
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.