顆
grain (e.g. rice)
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
Kun'yomi
- つ.ぶ
Meaning
顆 centers on a small, countable grain or particle, like a single grain of rice. It is used as a counter for small roundish objects.
Most common words using 顆
- 顆粒かりゅう
granule
- 顆か
condyle
- 印顆いんか
stamp; seal
- 無顆粒球症むかりゅうきゅうしょう
agranulocytosis
- 球顆きゅうか
spherulite
- 顆節目かせつもく
Condylarthra; extinct order of mammals
- 顆粒剤かりゅうざい
granules (medicine)
- 顆粒層かりゅうそう
granular layer; stratum granulosum
- 顆粒性かりゅうせい
granular
- 顆粒状かりゅうじょう
granular
- 顆粒球かりゅうきゅう
granulocyte
- 顆粒球減少症かりゅうきゅうげんしょうしょう
agranulocytosis
- 顆粒白血球かりゅうはっけっきゅう
granulocyte
- 顆粒細胞かりゅうさいぼう
granule cell
Study
Etymology
顆 combines 果 (fruit, result) with 頁 (head), originally referring to small, head-like round objects such as grains. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure with 果 contributing the sound カ is likely.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a fruit (果) that is actually a head (頁) made of tiny grains. Each grain is a single 顆.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a car (カ) filled with grains of rice, each grain counted as one 顆.