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Kotomora

鵐

unmottled quail

Strokes18

Readings

On'yomi

  • ブ
  • ム

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

鵐 refers to a specific kind of quail, described as unmottled. Its meaning is narrow and concrete, centered on this particular bird.

Most common words using 鵐

  • 島青鵐しまあおじ

    yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola)

  • 黒鵐くろじ

    gray bunting (Emberiza variabilis); grey bunting

Explore all words using 鵐 →

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Etymology

鵐 combines 巫 (shaman) with 鳥 (bird). The exact historical reason for this combination is uncertain, but it likely served as a phono-semantic compound for naming the bird.

Meaning mnemonic

A shaman 巫 stands beside a bird 鳥, identifying it as the unmottled quail—perhaps a bird with ritual significance.

Reading mnemonic

For ブ, imagine a shaman blowing a short, sharp note on a flute to call the unmottled quail: the 'boo' sound of the flute cues ブ.