雎
osprey
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- ショ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
雎 centers on the osprey, a fish-eating bird of prey. The meaning is specific to this bird.
Most common words using 雎
- 関雎かんしょ
harmony and courtesy in a marriage
Study
Etymology
雎 combines 且 and 隹. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it likely represents a specific bird name.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 且 looks like a shelf or a nest, and the right side 隹 is a bird. Picture an osprey perched on its nest: 雎 is the osprey.
Reading mnemonic
For ショ, imagine a short osprey swooping down to catch a fish: short -> ショ, and the bird's quick dive fits the reading.