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Kotomora

賽

dice, temple visit

Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • サイ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

賽 centers on dice and games of chance, and by extension a temple visit where one might seek divine favor or draw lots.

Most common words using 賽

  • 賽銭さいせん

    monetary offering; offertory

  • 賽さい

    dice; die

  • 賽の河原さいのかわら

    Children's Limbo

  • 賽は投げられたさいはなげられた

    the die is cast; there is no going back; alea iacta est

  • 賽銭泥棒さいせんどろぼう

    thief who steals money from the offerings box at a shrine or temple; offerings thief

  • 賽銭箱さいせんばこ

    offertory box

Explore all words using 賽 →

Study

Etymology

賽 originally combined 貝 (shell, used as money) with a phonetic element that also suggested competition or offering, relating to gambling with shells or presenting tribute at a temple.

Meaning mnemonic

Under a roof (宀), two hands (ハ) hold a shell (貝) as a die to roll, or as an offering at a temple visit.

Reading mnemonic

For サイ, imagine rolling dice and shouting 'sai!' as they land: sai -> サイ, matching the gambling and chance meaning.