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Kotomora

蠙

oyster

Strokes20

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヘン
  • ヒン

Kun'yomi

  • どぶがい

Meaning

蠙 centers on the oyster, a shellfish that produces pearls. The meaning is specific to this mollusk.

Study

Etymology

蠙 combines 虫 (insect/creature) with 賓, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically refers to the oyster, a type of shellfish.

Meaning mnemonic

The insect radical 虫 on the left suggests a small creature, and the right side 賓 looks like a guest under a roof with a shell (貝). Picture an oyster as a guest creature hiding a pearl inside its shell.

Reading mnemonic

For ヘン, imagine a hen pecking at an oyster shell to get the pearl inside: hen -> ヘン, and the oyster is the creature with the treasure.