鰣
Reeves' shad, hilsa herring
Strokes21
Readings
On'yomi
- シ
Kun'yomi
- このしろ
- はす
Meaning
鰣 refers specifically to a type of fish: Reeves' shad or hilsa herring. It is a narrow ichthyological term without a broader conceptual center.
Most common words using 鰣
Study
Etymology
鰣 combines 魚 (fish) with 時, which likely contributes the sound シ. The character was created to name a specific fish species.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 魚 means fish, and the right side 時 suggests time. Picture a fish that appears only at a certain time of year, like the seasonal shad.
Reading mnemonic
For シ, imagine a sheaf of herring: sheaf -> シ, and the fish 魚 on the left is that herring.