Mnemonic
A violent storm rips through the garden of lacquer trees, splitting their bark wide open. Thick, glossy sap oozes from every wound, coating the ground in a dark, mirror-like sheen. This natural resin is raw lacquer — harvested best after storms ravage the garden.
Additional thoughts
Imagine the storm cracking tree bark, sap flowing like black honey across garden soil. Storms damage trees, which 'bleed' lacquer sap — nature's violent way of producing the precious coating.Quick recall
A storm cracks open lacquer trees in the garden, releasing rivers of glossy black lacquer sap.Details
The keyword for 漆 is lacquer. This kanji refers to the natural sap harvested from the lacquer tree, which has been used for thousands of years in East Asia as a durable, glossy coating for wood, ceramics, and other materials. Japanese lacquerware, known as "urushi," is a celebrated traditional craft, and this kanji encompasses both the raw material and the finished lacquer product. By extension, it can also refer to the deep, lustrous black color characteristic of lacquered surfaces.
- On'yomi
- しつ
- Kun'yomi
- うるし