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Kotomora

鼂

kind of sea turtle, surname

Strokes18

Readings

On'yomi

  • チョウ
  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

  • うみがめ

Meaning

鼂 refers to a kind of sea turtle, and is also used as a surname. The two meanings are separate; the surname usage does not derive from the turtle meaning.

Study

Etymology

鼂 combines 旦 (dawn) and 黽 (frog/turtle-like creature). It likely originally depicted a type of turtle, with 旦 possibly contributing a phonetic element. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 旦 looks like the sun rising over the horizon, and the bottom 黽 is a creature with a shell and legs. Picture a sea turtle emerging from the ocean at dawn.

Reading mnemonic

For チョウ, imagine a sea turtle named Chou slowly crawling onto the beach at dawn: Chou -> チョウ.