茖
mountain leek, garlic
Strokes9
Readings
On'yomi
- カク
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
茖 centers on pungent allium plants: a type of wild mountain leek, and by extension, garlic.
Study
Etymology
茖 combines the grass radical 艹 with 各, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the structure suggests a plant name.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above 各, like a clump of wild leeks growing in a distinct patch. Each stalk is a pungent leek or garlic plant.
Reading mnemonic
For カク, imagine a cook chopping garlic: the sharp 'kak' sound of the knife cues カク, and the garlic cloves scatter under the grass-like leaves.