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Kotomora

薇

an edible fern

Strokes16

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)

Explore all words using 薇 →

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.