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Kotomora

采

dice, form, appearance, take, gather, coloring

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • サイ

Kun'yomi

  • と.る
  • いろどり

Meaning

采 centers on the act of picking or gathering something, which extends naturally to taking, selecting, or the resulting form and appearance. The dice and coloring senses are specific applications: dice as objects gathered and thrown, and coloring as the gathered hues that give form.

Most common words using 采

  • 喝采かっさい

    cheers; applause; ovation; acclamation

  • 采配さいはい

    baton (of command)

  • 采さい

    baton (of command)

  • 風采ふうさい

    appearance; air; mien; getup

  • 納采のうさい

    betrothal gift

  • 喝采を送るかっさいをおくる

    to applaud; to cheer (for)

  • 拍手喝采はくしゅかっさい

    clapping and cheering; applause

  • 神采しんさい

    surpassing looks; exceptional appearance

  • 采女うねめ

    maid-in-waiting (ritsuryō system)

  • 采女佑うねめのしょう

    high-ranking staff member in the Office of Court Ladies (ritsuryō system)

  • 采女司うねめのつかさ

    Office of Court Ladies (ritsuryō system)

  • 采女正うねめのかみ

    director of the Office of Court Ladies (ritsuryō system)

  • 采振木ざいふりぼく

    Asian serviceberry (Amelanchier asiatica); shadberry; juneberry; shadbush; shadblow

  • 采配を振るさいはいをふる

    to lead; to direct; to take command

  • 采配を振るうさいはいをふるう

    to wield a baton; to swing a baton

  • 采配蘭さいはいらん

    Cremastra appendiculata (species of orchid)

  • 風采が上がらないふうさいがあがらない

    of poor appearance; unimpressive-looking; undistinguished-looking; unattractive

Explore all words using 采 →

Study

Etymology

采 combines 爫 (claw/hand) over 木 (tree), suggesting a hand picking fruit or leaves from a tree. This gives the core idea of picking or gathering. The modern meanings of dice and coloring are later developments.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a hand (爫) reaching down to pluck fruit from a tree (木). That act of picking is the heart of 采: gathering, taking, and the resulting colorful form.

Reading mnemonic

For サイ, imagine a sigh of satisfaction as you gather the last fruit: sigh -> サイ, and your hand finishes the picking.