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Kotomora

蟶

razor clam

Strokes19

Readings

On'yomi

  • テイ

Kun'yomi

  • まて

Meaning

蟶 centers on a specific shellfish: the razor clam. It is a narrow, elongated bivalve that lives buried in sand.

Study

Etymology

蟶 combines the insect radical 虫 (used for shellfish and creeping creatures) with 聖, which likely provides the sound テイ. The character was created to name the razor clam.

Meaning mnemonic

The insect radical 虫 often appears in characters for shellfish and small creatures. The right side 聖 suggests something holy or pure, but here it mainly gives the sound. Picture a holy razor clam, perfectly straight and pure, buried in the sand.

Reading mnemonic

For テイ, imagine a razor clam shaped like the letter T, and you take a break for tea (ティー) while digging for it: tea -> テイ.