菟
dodder (plant)
Readings
On'yomi
- ト
- ツ
Kun'yomi
- うさぎ
Nanori
- う
Meaning
菟 centers on a parasitic plant: dodder, which twines around other plants. The meaning is narrow and botanical, without common abstract extensions.
Most common words using 菟
- 木菟みみずく
horned owl (any owl with horn-like ear tufts)
- 木菟ずく
horned owl (any owl with horn-like ear tufts)
- アメリカ大木葉木菟アメリカおおこのはずく
screech owl (Otus asio)
- アメリカ鷲木菟アメリカわしみみずく
great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
- 大木葉木菟おおこのはずく
Japanese scops-owl (Otus semitorques)
- 木の葉木菟このはずく
Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops)
- 木菟鳥つくとり
horned owl
- 虎斑木菟とらふずく
long-eared owl (Asio otus); northern long-eared owl
- 鷲木菟わしみみずく
Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo)
Study
Etymology
菟 combines the grass radical 艹 with 兔, which likely contributes sound. The character is used for the dodder plant, but the exact historical development of this specific combination is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass top 艹 over 兔 (rabbit) suggests a plant that tangles like a rabbit's warren: dodder, a parasitic vine that twists around other plants.
Reading mnemonic
For ト, picture a dodder vine wrapping around a toe: toe -> ト, and the plant clings like a tangled vine.