Mnemonic
A rabbit dashes under a tree to escape a hawk. The tree's long, drooping branches sweep down like curtains, perfectly hiding the rabbit — it's a willow! Grateful, the rabbit now lives beneath the willow, its swaying branches a gentle, ghostly sanctuary.
Additional thoughts
Picture a rabbit nestled among cascading willow branches, ears poking through the green curtain. The rabbit's long ears mirror the willow's long, slender drooping limbs — both elegant and distinctive.Quick recall
A rabbit hides under a tree whose drooping branches reveal it to be a willow.Details
The keyword for 柳 is willow. This kanji refers to the willow tree, a graceful tree known for its long, slender, drooping branches that sway gently in the wind. Willows are deeply embedded in East Asian culture and poetry, often symbolizing elegance, flexibility, and the beauty of spring. In Japanese tradition, the willow is also associated with femininity and sometimes with the supernatural, as ghostly figures were often depicted beneath willow trees.
- On'yomi
- りゅう
- Kun'yomi
- やなぎ