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Kotomora

鷖

seagull

Strokes22

Readings

On'yomi

  • エイ

Kun'yomi

  • かもめ

Meaning

鷖 centers on a specific water bird: the seagull. The meaning is narrow and concrete, with no abstract extensions.

Study

Etymology

鷖 combines 殹 (likely phonetic) with 鳥 (bird) to denote a specific bird, the seagull. The exact historical development of 殹 is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 殹 looks like a complex shape, but the bottom 鳥 clearly signals a bird. Picture a seagull with a distinctive, intricate wing pattern matching the top part.

Reading mnemonic

For エイ, imagine a seagull gliding over the bay and letting out a long 'A' call: A -> エイ, like the bird's cry echoing across the water.