薦
recommend, mat, advise, encourage, offer
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- すす.める
Nanori
- こも
Meaning
薦 centers on putting something forward for consideration or use: recommending a person, advising a course of action, or offering something like a mat for sitting. The mat sense is a concrete object placed under someone, which extends naturally to the idea of presenting or supporting.
Most common words using 薦
- 推薦すいせんN3
recommendation; referral; endorsement
- 自薦じせん
self-recommendation; self-nomination; putting oneself forward
- 他薦たせん
recommendation (by others)
- 薦こも
woven straw mat (orig. made of wild rice leaves)
- 奏薦そうせん
recommendation to the throne
- 御薦おこも
beggar
- 指定校推薦していこうすいせん
designated school recommendation; recommendation for admission from a school designated by the university
- 推薦人すいせんにん
recommender; nominator; referee
- 推薦入学すいせんにゅうがく
admission based on recommendation; enrolment by recommendation (enrollment)
- 推薦入試すいせんにゅうし
entrance examination for selected candidates (who have been recommended to the university)
- 推薦図書すいせんとしょ
recommended books; recommended reading
- 推薦書すいせんしょ
recommendation; nomination
- 推薦枠すいせんわく
(university) admission category for recommended candidates
- 推薦状すいせんじょう
letter of invitation; letter of recommendation; reference
- 推薦者すいせんしゃ
recommender; nominator; referee
- 荒薦あらごも
loosely woven mat of wild rice leaves
- 蒲薦ほせん
bulrush mat
- 薦僧こもそう
mendicant Zen priest of the Fuke sect
- 薦挙せんきょ
recommendation
- 薦被りこもかぶり
cask wrapped in straw matting
Study
Etymology
薦 combines 艹 (grass) with 廌, a component historically associated with a mythical beast that could distinguish right from wrong. The original idea may have been grass used as bedding or a mat, possibly offered to such a beast, leading to the extended sense of presenting or recommending.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture grass 艹 spread under a mythical beast 廌 as a mat, offering it a comfortable place to rest. From this act of presenting a mat comes the idea of recommending or offering something to someone.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine a centipede crawling onto the grass mat, and you recommend it as a pet: cent -> セン.