Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 穣

Level:N1 Mid
Strokes:18
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji primarily signifies "abundant harvest," "plentiful," or "richness," particularly in relation to crops like rice or grains. It encapsulates the idea of a bountiful yield, representing prosperity and fullness resulting from successful farming.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): ジョウ (jō) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): みの (mino) - as in みのり (minori) meaning "harvest" or "yield."

Usage Examples

⚫︎(ほうじょう) Translation: Abundant harvest; plentiful yield. ⚫︎穣な土地(ほうじょうなとち) Translation: Fertile/Rich land. ⚫︎五穀(ごこくじょう) Translation: Abundant harvest of the five grains (rice, wheat, etc.).

Origin and Formation

The kanji is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, keisei moji). The right side of the character, (きゅう - kyuu), represents a mortar, a tool used for processing grains. This side acts as the semantic component, hinting at the connection to agriculture and grain processing. The left side is (みず - mizu or sui) representing water, a key element for successful farming. This combination illustrates the importance of water, the land, and grains for a prosperous harvest. Over time, the character evolved to more closely embody the concept of an abundant harvest.

Menus