蜺
reflection of rainbow
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- ゲイ
- ゲツ
- ゲチ
Kun'yomi
- つくつくぼうし
Meaning
蜺 centers on a rainbow's reflection, a secondary or mirrored rainbow. The meaning is narrow and visual, tied to an atmospheric phenomenon.
Study
Etymology
蜺 combines 虫 (insect/creature) with 兒, which likely contributes the sound. The connection to a rainbow reflection is not obvious from the components, and the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 beside 兒 suggests a small, curved creature. Picture a tiny insect-shaped arc of light mirroring the main rainbow: 蜺 is the reflection of a rainbow.
Reading mnemonic
For ゲイ, imagine a gayly colored secondary rainbow: gay -> ゲイ, and the insect-like arc reflects the main rainbow's colors.