藺
rush, used for tatami covers, surname
Readings
On'yomi
- リン
Kun'yomi
- い
Meaning
藺 centers on a type of rush plant used for weaving tatami covers; the surname sense is a derived use of the plant name.
Most common words using 藺
- 太藺ふとい
softstem bulrush (Scirpus tabernaemontani)
- 藺い
soft rush (Juncus effusus var. decipiens); common rush
- アンペラ藺アンペラい
Machaerina rubiginosa (species of tropical sedge)
- 七島藺しちとうい
Shichito matgrass (Cyperus malaccensis)
- 松葉藺まつばい
needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis)
- 綾藺笠あやいがさ
type of traditional Japanese conical hat
- 蛍藺ほたるい
Scirpus hotarui (species of bulrush)
Study
Etymology
藺 combines the plant radical 艹 with 閵, which likely contributes the sound. The character refers to a specific rush plant.
Meaning mnemonic
Under the grass top 艹, the gate 門 with a bird 隹 inside suggests a rush plant growing near a gate where birds perch, used for weaving tatami covers.
Reading mnemonic
For リン, imagine a length of rush being woven into a tatami cover, and think of the English word 'linen' (リン) to remember the reading.