蟇
toad
Readings
On'yomi
- バ
- マ
Kun'yomi
- ひき
Meaning
蟇 centers on a toad, a specific amphibian. The meaning is concrete and does not branch into abstract extensions.
Most common words using 蟇
- 蟇ひきがえる
toad (esp. the Japanese toad, Bufo japonicus)
- アジア蟇アジアひきがえる
Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans)
- ヨーロッパ蟇ヨーロッパひきがえる
common toad (Bufo bufo)
- 大蟇おおひきがえる
cane toad (Rhinella marina); marine toad; giant toad
- 宮古蟇みやこひきがえる
Miyako toad (Bufo gargarizans miyakonis)
- 日本蟇蛙にほんひきがえる
Japanese toad (Bufo japonicus); Japanese common toad
- 流蟇蛙ながれひきがえる
Japanese stream toad (Bufo torrenticola)
- 蝦蟇腫がましゅ
ranula
- 蝦蟇鮟鱇がまあんこう
toadfish (any fish of family Batrachoididae, esp. the Pacuma toadfish, Batrachoides surinamensis)
- 蟇目ひきめ
large, perforated, turnip-shaped arrowhead cover made of Japanese bigleaf magnolia or paulownia; harmless arrow affixed with such a cover (that whistles when shot and is used to drive off evil spirits)
Study
Etymology
蟇 combines 虫 (insect/creature) with 莫, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically denotes a toad.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 莫 looks like a squat, bumpy shape, and the bottom 虫 marks it as a creature. Picture a bumpy toad sitting under a broad leaf.
Reading mnemonic
For バ, imagine a toad letting out a deep, croaking 'baaa' sound: baaa -> バ, and the toad's throat puffs out.