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Kotomora

莇

Chinese matrimony vine, tilling public fields, corvee, surname

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジョ

Kun'yomi

  • あさがら

Nanori

  • あざみ

Meaning

莇 is a rare kanji with several distinct meanings that do not share one clear conceptual center. It can refer to the Chinese matrimony vine plant, the act of tilling public fields or corvée labor, and is also used as a surname.

Study

Etymology

The exact historical development of 莇 is uncertain. It combines 艹 (grass) with 助, but the original semantic and phonetic roles are unclear.

Meaning mnemonic

The grass top 艹 suggests a plant, and the bottom 助 (help) can be seen as helping with public fields. Picture a vine growing over a field where workers are helping to till the land.

Reading mnemonic

For ジョ, imagine a worker named Joe tilling the public fields under the Chinese matrimony vine: Joe -> ジョ.