銅
copper
Readings
On'yomi
- ドウ
Kun'yomi
- あかがね
Meaning
銅 centers on the metal copper, a reddish-brown element used for wiring, coins, and alloys.
Most common words using 銅
20 of 86- 銅どうN2
copper (Cu)
- 銅像どうぞうN1
bronze statue
- 銅メダルどうメダル
bronze medal
- 銅貨どうか
copper coin
- 青銅せいどう
bronze
- 銅山どうざん
copper mine
- 青銅器せいどうき
bronze ware
- 赤銅しゃくどう
shakudo; gold-copper alloy, often with a blue patina
- 銅鑼どら
gong; tam-tam
- 黄銅おうどう
brass
- 銅賞どうしょう
bronze prize; bronze award; bronze medal; third-place prize
- 銅鐸どうたく
bell-shaped bronze vessel of Yayoi period
- 銅板どうばん
sheet copper
- 銅版どうばん
copper plate; copperplate
- 銅器どうき
copperware
- 銅鏡どうきょう
bronze mirror
- 分銅ふんどう
weight (for scales); counterweight
- 白銅はくどう
nickel and copper alloy
- 銅版画どうはんが
copperplate engraving; etching
- 銅線どうせん
copper line; copper wire
Study
Etymology
銅 combines the metal radical 金 with 同, which likely contributes the sound ドウ. The character originally referred to copper as a specific metal.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 金 means metal, and the right side 同 looks like a container. Picture a metal container made of shiny reddish copper.
Reading mnemonic
For ドウ, imagine a copper dome: dome -> ドウ, and the dome is made of gleaming copper metal.