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Kotomora

鉛

lead

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • エン

Kun'yomi

  • なまり

Meaning

鉛 centers on the heavy, soft metal lead. Its meaning is straightforward and specific to this element.

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Etymology

鉛 combines 金 (metal) with a phonetic component that historically contributed the sound エン. The right side is a simplified form whose exact origin is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The metal 金 on the left and the heavy-looking right side suggest a dense, weighty metal: lead.

Reading mnemonic

For エン, imagine a lead weight at the end of a fishing line: the end weight cues エン, and it's made of heavy lead.