蛞
kind of slug
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- カツ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
蛞 centers on a specific kind of slug, a soft-bodied terrestrial mollusk. The meaning is narrow and refers to this animal.
Most common words using 蛞
Study
Etymology
蛞 combines 虫 (insect/worm) with 舌 (tongue), likely as a phono-semantic compound where 舌 contributes the sound and 虫 indicates a small creature. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 虫 suggests a small crawling creature, and the right side 舌 looks like a tongue. Imagine a slug stretching out its tongue-like body as it moves.
Reading mnemonic
For カツ, picture a slug slowly crossing a cut (カツ) piece of lettuce: cut -> カツ, and the slug is the kind of creature that might be found there.