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Kotomora

鷄

chicken

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes21

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ

Kun'yomi

  • にわとり
  • とり

Meaning

鷄 centers on the domestic chicken as a bird. It is a specific character for chicken, often used in older or formal contexts.

Study

Etymology

鷄 combines 奚 (which likely contributes the sound) with 鳥 (bird) to specify a chicken. The exact role of 奚 is uncertain, but the character is a phono-semantic compound for chicken.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 奚 looks like a hand over a tied-up bird, and the right side 鳥 is a bird. Picture a chicken being held by its legs: 鷄 is a chicken.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a chicken laying an egg shaped like the letter K: K -> ケイ, and the chicken clucks proudly.