黍
millet
Readings
On'yomi
- ショ
Kun'yomi
- きび
Meaning
黍 refers specifically to millet, a type of grain.
Most common words using 黍
- 黍きび
(common) millet (Panicum miliaceum); proso millet
- 蜀黍もろこし
sorghum (Sorghum bicolor); Indian millet
- 南蛮黍なんばんきび
corn; maize
- 唐黍とうきび
Indian millet
- 玉黍たまきび
corn (Zea mays)
- 砂糖蜀黍さとうもろこし
sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. saccharatum)
- 糯黍もちきび
glutinous millet; sticky millet
- 西蛮蜀黍せいばんもろこし
Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense); Johnsongrass; Egyptian millet
- 高黍たかきび
sorghum (Sorghum bicolor); Indian millet
Study
Etymology
黍 is a pictograph of a millet plant, with the top representing the grain head and the bottom the stalk and roots. The modern form retains this general plant-like structure.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 秂 looks like a grain-heavy head of millet, and the bottom 氺 suggests the stalk and water it grows in. Together they form the millet plant.
Reading mnemonic
For ショ, imagine a short millet stalk: short -> ショ, and the millet plant is compact and short.