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Kotomora

隅

corner, nook

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • グウ

Kun'yomi

  • すみ

Meaning

隅 centers on an inner corner or recessed space: a nook, cranny, or the corner of a room where two surfaces meet.

Most common words using 隅

20 of 34
  • 隅すみ
    N4

    corner; nook; recess

  • 片隅かたすみ

    corner; nook

  • 隅っこすみっこ

    corner; nook; recess

  • 四隅よすみ

    four corners

  • 大隅おおすみ

    Ōsumi (former province located in the east of present-day Kagoshima Prefecture, including the Amami Islands)

  • 一隅いちぐう

    corner; nook

  • 隅々すみずみ

    every corner; every nook and cranny; all the ins and outs

  • 隅に置けないすみにおけない
    N1

    witty and knowing; not to be underestimated; smooth operator

  • 僻隅へきぐう

    corner; nook

  • 入隅いりすみ

    internal angle of two walls, planes, etc.

  • 出隅ですみ

    external corner angle of two walls, planes, etc.

  • 南隅なんぐう

    southern corner

  • 右上隅みぎうえすみ

    top right corner

  • 右下隅みぎしたすみ

    bottom right corner

  • 大隅石おおすみせき

    osumilite

  • 夷隅養護学校いすみようごがっこう

    Isumi Special Needs School (older name style)

  • 左上隅ひだりうえすみ

    top left corner

  • 左下隅ひだりしたすみ

    bottom left corner

  • 左隅ひだりすみ

    left-hand corner; lower left

  • 重箱の隅じゅうばこのすみ

    unimportant things; insignificant things; trifles

Explore all words using 隅 →

Study

Etymology

隅 combines ⻖ (hill, mound) with 禺, which likely contributes the sound. The original sense is a corner or recess formed by a hill or earthen boundary.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side ⻖ suggests a raised earthen wall, and the right side 禺 looks like a tucked-away space. Picture a hidden nook where a hill meets a wall: that's a corner.

Reading mnemonic

For グウ, imagine a gooey substance collecting in the corner of a room: goo -> グウ, and the sticky goo fills the nook.