薫
send forth fragrance, fragrant, be scented, smoke (tobacco)
Readings
On'yomi
- クン
Kun'yomi
- かお.る
Nanori
- かおり
- かおる
- かほ
- かほる
- くに
- しげ
- にほ
- のぶ
- よし
Meaning
薫 centers on a pleasant, spreading scent: something fragrant, giving off a good smell, or the act of scenting something. The tobacco smoke sense is a specific application of that same idea of a fragrant fume.
Most common words using 薫
- 薫くん
pleasant smell; aroma; fragrance; scent
- 薫陶くんとう
education; training; discipline
- 薫風くんぷう
balmy breeze; summer breeze
- 余薫よくん
lingering odor; lingering odour
- 空薫そらだき
burning incense without making its source obvious; pleasant smell coming from an unknown location
- 薫くたく
to burn (usu. incense)
- 薫じるくんじる
to be fragrant
- 薫ずるくんずる
to be fragrant
- 薫化くんか
influencing people by one's virtue
- 薫染くんせん
good influence
- 薫煙くんえん
fragrant smoke; aromatic smoke
- 薫物たきもの
incense
- 薫育くんいく
moral influence; moral education
- 薫蒸消毒くんじょうしょうどく
fumigation
- 薫香くんこう
incense; fragrance
- 風薫るかぜかおる
(subject to the) cool light breeze in early summer
Study
Etymology
薫 combines the plant top 艹 with a lower element that likely contributed the sound and the idea of smoke or fragrance rising. The exact historical development of the lower part is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The plant top 艹 sits above a shape that suggests smoke or vapor rising. Picture fragrant herbs on a fire, sending up scented smoke that fills the air.
Reading mnemonic
For クン, imagine a fragrant coon (a raccoon-like creature) rolling in herbs, sending forth a strong scent: coon -> クン.