蠶
silkworms
Strokes26
Readings
On'yomi
- サン
- テン
Kun'yomi
- かいこ
- こ
Meaning
蠶 centers on silkworms, the insects cultivated for silk production.
Study
Etymology
蠶 combines 䖵 (a pair of insects) with 朁, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically refers to silkworms, a culturally significant insect.
Meaning mnemonic
The bottom 䖵 shows two insects, and the top 朁 looks like a complex shelter. Picture a special house where two silkworms are raised together to spin silk.
Reading mnemonic
For サン, imagine the silkworms basking under the sun (サン) inside their shelter: sun -> サン, and the warmth helps them produce silk.