鍾
spindle, gather, collect
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
- シュ
Kun'yomi
- あつ.める
- さかずき
- かね
Meaning
鍾 centers on bringing things together into one place: gathering, collecting, or concentrating. The spindle sense is a tool that gathers thread, and the sake cup sense is a vessel that collects liquid.
Most common words using 鍾
- 鍾乳洞しょうにゅうどう
limestone cave; limestone cavern
- 鍾しょう
round bronze jar used for storing alcohol (Han dynasty China)
- 鍾乳体しょうにゅうたい
cystolith
- 鍾乳石しょうにゅうせき
stalactite
- 鍾愛しょうあい
deep affection; tender love; devotion; doting upon
- 鍾馗しょうき
Shōki the Plague-Queller; Zhong Kui; traditional Chinese deity said to prevent plagues and ward off evil and reputedly able to command 80,000 demons
- 鍾馗さんしょうきさん
small statue of Shōki the Plague-Queller (placed on the overhang of traditional houses in parts of Kyoto and Nara)
- 鍾馗水仙しょうきずいせん
Lycoris traubii (species of spider lily)
- 鍾馗蘭しょうきらん
Yoania japonica (species of orchid)
Study
Etymology
鍾 combines 金 (metal) with 重, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of heaviness or concentration. The character originally referred to a metal vessel or bell, later extended to gathering or concentrating.
Meaning mnemonic
Metal (金) is heavy (重), and heavy things tend to gather and collect in one place. Imagine a heavy metal spindle collecting thread, or a metal sake cup gathering poured liquid.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, picture a show where performers gather on stage: show -> ショウ, and the metal spotlight collects them in one bright circle.