Skip to content
Kotomora

鈔

selection, summary, 1/10 shaku

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

鈔 centers on selecting and condensing: picking out key points to form a summary, or a specific small unit (1/10 shaku) that represents a selected fraction.

Most common words using 鈔

  • あい嚢鈔あいのうしょう

    Ainosho (dictionary of Buddhism, first published in 1446)

  • 倭名類聚鈔わみょうるいじゅしょう

    Wamyōruijushō (famous Heian-period Japanese dictionary)

  • 壒嚢鈔あいのうしょう

    Ainosho (dictionary of Buddhism, first published in 1446)

Explore all words using 鈔 →

Study

Etymology

鈔 combines 金 (metal) with 少, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of smallness or reduction. The character originally referred to a small metal coin or a fraction of a monetary unit, later extending to the act of selecting or summarizing.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is metal 金, and the right side is few/little 少. Imagine using a metal tool to pick out only a few key points, creating a summary. The small metal coin sense fits the idea of a tiny fraction.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, picture a show where a metal detector selects only a few valuable items from a pile: show -> ショウ, and the metal 金 picks out the small 少 treasures.