鏗

clinking sound

Strokes20

Readings

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

つく

Meaning

鏗 centers on a clear, resonant clinking sound, especially of metal or stone striking together.

Most common words using 鏗

鏗然こうぜん
emitting a shrill sound (musical instrument, metal, stone)
鏗鏗こうこう
the ringing out of bells or chimes
鏗鏘こうそう
resounding (sound of bells, musical instruments, stones being struck, etc.)

Explore all words using 鏗 →

Study

Etymology

鏗 combines 金 (metal) with 堅, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of hardness, together suggesting the hard clinking sound of metal.

Meaning mnemonic

Metal 金 on the left and hard 堅 on the right: imagine striking two hard metal pieces together to produce a sharp clinking sound.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, picture a metal gong being struck: the deep 'koh' sound it makes cues コウ, and the clinking metal fits the kanji's meaning.