錨
anchor, grapnel
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- ビョウ
- ミョウ
Kun'yomi
- いかり
Meaning
錨 centers on a heavy device used to hold a ship in place: an anchor. A grapnel is a specific type of small anchor with hooks.
Most common words using 錨
Study
Etymology
錨 combines 金 (metal) with 苗, which likely contributes the sound ビョウ. The character was created to represent a metal anchor.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is metal 金, and the right side 苗 looks like a plant sprouting in a field. Imagine a heavy metal anchor with hooked arms like sprouting tendrils, gripping the seabed.
Reading mnemonic
For ビョウ, picture a ship's anchor being lowered with a loud 'byow' sound as it hits the water: byow -> ビョウ, and the metal anchor sinks down.