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Kotomora

這

crawl, creep, grovel, trail (vines)

StatusJinmeiyōStrokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • シャ
  • ゲン

Kun'yomi

  • は.う
  • は.い
  • むか.える
  • この

Meaning

這 centers on slow, low movement along a surface: crawling, creeping, groveling, or the way vines trail along the ground.

Most common words using 這

20 of 32
  • 這うはう
    N2

    to crawl; to creep; to go on all fours

  • 夜這いよばい

    creeping at night into a woman's bedroom; stealing into a girl's bedroom at night to make love; sneaking visit

  • 四つん這いよつんばい

    crawling on all fours; being on all fours; being on one's hands and knees

  • 這いずるはいずる

    to creep; to crawl

  • ずり這いずりばい

    belly crawl (of a baby); commando crawl

  • 四つ這いよつばい

    crawling on all fours; being on all fours; being on one's hands and knees

  • 夜這星よばいぼし

    meteor; shooting star

  • 横這いガラガラ蛇よこばいガラガラへび

    sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes)

  • 稲妻横這いなずまよこばい

    zig-zag rice leafhopper (Recilia dorsalis)

  • 褄黒大横這いつまぐろおおよこばい

    Bothrogonia ferruginea (species of leafhopper)

  • 褄黒横這つまぐろよこばい

    green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps)

  • 這々ほうほう

    confusedly; perplexity

  • 這いずり回るはいずりまわる

    to creep about; to crawl around

  • 這いつくばうはいつくばう

    to grovel; to go down on one's hands and knees

  • 這いつくばるはいつくばる

    to grovel; to go down on one's hands and knees

  • 這い上がるはいあがる

    to creep up; to crawl up

  • 這い出すはいだす

    to crawl out; to creep out

  • 這い出るはいでる

    to crawl out of; to creep out of

  • 這い回るはいまわる

    to creep about; to crawl around

  • 這い寄るはいよる

    to crawl towards; to creep up to

Explore all words using 這 →

Study

Etymology

這 combines 辶 (movement) with 言 (words), but the historical reason for this combination is uncertain. The modern meaning of crawling or creeping may not directly follow from the visible components.

Meaning mnemonic

The movement radical 辶 wraps around 言, like words creeping slowly along a path. Imagine a message crawling forward inch by inch.

Reading mnemonic

For シャ, picture a shy person crawling away from a crowd: shy -> シャ, and they creep along the ground to escape.