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Kotomora

薫

send forth fragrance, fragrant, be scented, smoke (tobacco)

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • クン

Kun'yomi

  • かお.る

Nanori

  • かおり
  • かおる
  • かほ
  • かほる

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

Explore all words using 薫 →

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.