這
crawl, creep, grovel, trail (vines)
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
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.