蟷
mantis
Strokes19
Readings
On'yomi
- トウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
蟷 refers specifically to the praying mantis, an insect known for its folded forelegs.
Most common words using 蟷
Study
Etymology
蟷 combines the insect radical 虫 with the phonetic component 當 (トウ), which indicates the reading. The character was created to name the mantis.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 on the left signals a bug, and the right side 當 looks like a mantis with its folded arms and segmented body. Picture a mantis perched on a leaf, its shape matching the character.
Reading mnemonic
For トウ, imagine a mantis tapping its toe on a leaf: toe -> トウ, and the insect waits patiently.