江
Mnemonic
A violent storm catches a carpenter off guard while he builds a footbridge. Torrential rain carves a rushing creek right beneath his feet—water splits the earth where he stood, sweeping planks and tools downstream. Now the carpenter just stares at the new creek, realizing nature does its own carpentry.
Additional thoughts
Picture the carpenter straddling the widening crack as storm water rushes through—nature literally carving a waterway like a chisel through wood.Quick recall
A storm forces a carpenter to watch helplessly as rain carves a creek right under his bridge.Details
The keyword for 江 is creek. This kanji refers to a body of flowing water, traditionally denoting a large river or inlet in Chinese, but in the context of Japanese kanji study, it is often associated with the more modest meaning of a creek or waterway. It appears frequently in place names, most notably in the historical name for Tokyo's bay area. The character conveys the image of a flowing body of water winding through the landscape.
- On'yomi
- こう
- Kun'yomi
- え