Mnemonic
A goat spots a comet streaking overhead with its keen eye. The comet crashes into a field, leaving behind a shimmering celestial robe in the crater. The goat trots over and decides to don the radiant garment, draping it proudly across its back. Now the goat struts around dressed in starlight, having arrived at peak fashion.
Additional thoughts
Picture the goat physically settling the glowing cloak onto its body—'donning' connects wearing and arriving/landing, just like the comet arrived and the robe settled onto the goat.Quick recall
A goat uses its eye to watch a comet crash, then dons the glowing robe it left behind.Details
The keyword for 着 is don. This kanji refers to the act of putting on or wearing clothing, as in donning a garment. It also carries the broader meaning of arriving at a destination or something coming into contact with a surface. The sense of attachment and settling into place connects both meanings—whether one is settling clothes onto the body or arriving and settling at a location.
- On'yomi
- ちゃく、じゃく
- Kun'yomi
- き.る、き.せる、つ.く、つ.ける