薇
an edible fern
Readings
On'yomi
- ラ
- ビ
Kun'yomi
- ぜんまい
Meaning
薇 refers to a specific edible fern, often identified as the Japanese royal fern (zenmai). Its meaning is narrow and botanical, without abstract extensions.
Most common words using 薇
20 of 22- 薔薇薔薇バラバラN3
scattered; disperse; loose; disconnected; in pieces; in drops; rustling
- 薔薇ばらN1
rose
- 薇ぜんまい
Japanese royal fern (Osmunda japonica); Asian royal fern; flowering fern
- 野薔薇のいばら
multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora); baby rose; Japanese rose
- つる薔薇つるばら
climbing rose; rambling rose
- 冬薔薇ふゆそうび
winter rose
- 城山薇しろやまぜんまい
Osmunda banksiifolia (species of fern)
- 大薔薇苺おおばらいちご
Rubus croceacanthus (species of raspberry)
- 庚申薔薇こうしんばら
China rose (Rosa chinensis); monthly rosebush
- 木香薔薇もっこうばら
banksia rose (Rosa banksiae)
- 綺麗な薔薇には棘があるきれいなばらにはとげがある
there is no rose without a thorn; every rose has its thorn
- 薔薇のつぼみばらのつぼみ
rosebud
- 薔薇の名前ばらのなまえ
The Name of the Rose (1980 novel by Umberto Eco)
- 薔薇十字団ばらじゅうじだん
Rosicrucian; Fellowship of the Rosy Cross
- 薔薇戦争ばらせんそう
War of the Roses (1455-1485)
- 薔薇族ばらぞく
Barazoku (gay men's magazine; 1971-2011)
- 薔薇笛鯛ばらふえだい
two-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar)
- 薔薇羽太ばらはた
yellow-edged lyretail (Variola louti); lyretail grouper; coronation cod
- 薔薇輝石ばらきせき
rhodonite
- 薔薇鯥ばらむつ
oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus)
Study
Etymology
薇 combines the grass radical 艹 with 微, which likely acts as a phonetic component. The character was created to name a type of fern.
Meaning mnemonic
The top grass radical 艹 tells you it's a plant. The bottom part 微 suggests something tiny or subtle—picture the delicate, curled fronds of a young fern emerging from the ground.
Reading mnemonic
For ラ, imagine a fern frond unfurling with a soft 'la' sound, like a gentle musical note: la -> ラ, as the fern opens to the sun.