蒻
a kind of water plant
Readings
On'yomi
- ジャク
- ニャク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
蒻 refers to a specific kind of water plant. The meaning is narrow and concrete, without broader abstract extensions.
Most common words using 蒻
- 蒟蒻こんにゃく
konnyaku (Amorphophallus konjac); konjac; devil's tongue
- スマトラ大蒟蒻スマトラおおこんにゃく
titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum); corpse flower; carrion flower
- 刺青蒟蒻鯵いれずみこんにゃくあじ
ragfish (Icosteus aenigmaticus)
- 蒟蒻ゼリーこんにゃくゼリー
fruit jelly (gelled with konjac starch); fruit jello
- 蒟蒻本こんにゃくぼん
Japanese book size (approx. 12.5cm by 17.5cm)
Study
Etymology
蒻 combines the grass radical 艹 with 弱, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character is used for a specific water plant, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass top 艹 sits above 弱, which looks like two bows 弓 with ice 冫. Picture a weak, bowing water plant growing among grass.
Reading mnemonic
For ジャク, imagine a weak water plant that can't stand up straight: it's a 'jack' of all trades but master of none, so it just floats weakly. Jack -> ジャク.