鴟
kite
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- シ
Kun'yomi
- とび
Meaning
鴟 refers specifically to a kite, a type of bird of prey.
Most common words using 鴟
- 鴟尾しび
ornamental ridge-end tile
Study
Etymology
鴟 combines 氐 (which may contribute a phonetic element) with 鳥 (bird), forming a character for a specific bird, the kite. The exact historical development of the 氐 component in this context is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 氐 looks like a base or foundation, and the right side 鳥 is a bird. Imagine a kite bird building its nest on a high foundation.
Reading mnemonic
For シ, picture a kite bird sitting silently on a branch, making a soft 'shh' sound: shh -> シ.