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Kotomora

蜡

wax, candle, waxy, glazed, maggot

Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショ
  • ワ
  • ジャ
  • セキ
  • シャク

Kun'yomi

  • うじむし

Meaning

蜡 centers on waxy substances and their uses, such as candles and glazes, but also extends to the unrelated meaning of maggot, likely due to the insect radical.

Study

Etymology

蜡 combines 虫 (insect) with 昔, which likely contributes the sound. The connection to wax may come from insect-derived waxes, while the maggot meaning directly relates to the insect radical.

Meaning mnemonic

An insect (虫) from the past (昔) leaves behind a waxy substance, like beeswax, or appears as a maggot.

Reading mnemonic

For ショ, imagine a show where a candle made of insect wax is the main attraction: show -> ショ, and the candle's wax comes from the insect.