衢
crossroads
Strokes24
Readings
On'yomi
- ク
Kun'yomi
- みち
Meaning
衢 centers on a place where paths intersect: a crossroads or thoroughfare where multiple routes meet.
Most common words using 衢
- 街衢がいく
town
Study
Etymology
衢 combines 行 (going, road) with 瞿, which likely contributes sound and may relate to looking around, fitting a crossroads where one looks in different directions.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer 行 suggests a road or path, and the inner 瞿 looks like a pair of eyes (目) above a bird-like shape, as if scanning multiple directions at a junction. Picture standing at a crossroads, looking left and right before choosing a way.
Reading mnemonic
For ク, imagine a cool crossroads at night: cool -> ク, and the crossroads stretch out under the cool sky.