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Kotomora

麴

yeast, leaven, surname

Strokes19

Readings

On'yomi

  • キク

Kun'yomi

  • こうじ

Meaning

麴 centers on fermentation starters made from grain: yeast and leaven used in brewing and baking. The surname meaning is a separate application of the same character.

Study

Etymology

麴 combines 麥 (wheat/grain) with 匊, which likely contributes the sound and relates to the idea of fermenting grain into yeast or leaven.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 麥 shows grain, and the right side 匊 looks like something being wrapped and fermented. Picture grain being packed and left to ferment into yeast.

Reading mnemonic

For キク, imagine a brewer adding yeast to a vat and saying 'kick' as the fermentation starts: kick -> キク, and the yeast kicks the brewing process into action.