葵
hollyhock
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
Kun'yomi
- あおい
Nanori
- まもる
- け
Meaning
葵 refers specifically to the hollyhock plant, a tall flowering plant with large leaves. The meaning is concrete and botanical, without broad abstract extensions.
Most common words using 葵
20 of 27- 葵あおい
mallow (any plant of family Malvaceae)
- 向日葵ひまわり
sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- 山葵わさびN1
wasabi (Wasabia japonica); Japanese horseradish
- 布袋葵ほていあおい
common water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes)
- 三つ葉葵みつばあおい
wild ginger trefoil family crest (of the Tokugawa clan); triple hollyhock family crest
- 二葉葵ふたばあおい
Asarum caulescens (species of wild ginger)
- 冬葵ふゆあおい
cluster mallow (Malva verticillata)
- 天竺葵てんじくあおい
geranium (Pelargonium inquinans)
- 姫向日葵ひめひまわり
cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus cucumerifolius)
- 寒葵かんあおい
Asarum nipponicum (species of wild ginger)
- 山葵の木わさびのき
horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera); drumstick tree; moringa
- 山葵田わさびでん
wetland wasabi terrace
- 戎葵じゅうき
hollyhock
- 水向日葵みずひまわり
Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides); giant green hygro
- 水葵みずあおい
Monochoria korsakowii (species of flowering plant)
- 白根葵しらねあおい
Japanese wood poppy (Glaucidium palmatum)
- 立葵たちあおい
hollyhock (Alcea rosea); common hollyhock
- 紅葉葵もみじあおい
scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus)
- 花葵はなあおい
hollyhock (Althaea rosea)
- 葵の御紋あおいのごもん
wild ginger trefoil family crest (of the Tokugawa clan); triple hollyhock family crest
Study
Etymology
葵 combines the plant radical 艹 with 癸, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created to name the hollyhock plant.
Meaning mnemonic
The top grass radical 艹 shows it's a plant, and the bottom 癸 looks a bit like a tall stem with leaves. Picture a towering hollyhock growing from the ground.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, imagine a key-shaped hollyhock stem unlocking a garden gate: key -> キ, and the plant is the hollyhock.