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Kotomora

鵑

cuckoo

Strokes18

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケン

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

鵑 refers specifically to the cuckoo bird.

Most common words using 鵑

  • 山杜鵑やまほととぎす

    lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus; esp. one living in the mountains)

  • 杜鵑とけん

    lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)

  • 杜鵑花とけんか

    satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum)

  • 杜鵑草ほととぎす

    toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta)

Explore all words using 鵑 →

Study

Etymology

鵑 combines 鳥 (bird) with 肙, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of 肙 is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The right side is 鳥 (bird), and the left side 肙 looks like a small, compact shape. Picture a cuckoo bird calling from within a dense thicket.

Reading mnemonic

For ケン, imagine a cuckoo bird named Ken who always calls out his own name: Ken -> ケン.