稲
Mnemonic
In old times, a great eagle dug its claw into the earth and from the furrow sprouted the first Rice Plant, each stalk crowned with golden grain. Farmers still mimic that claw motion when harvesting rice by hand, curling their fingers around the stalks.
Additional thoughts
Picture the eagle's talon raking the soil like a plow—an origin myth. The claw shape mirrors the way fingers curl around rice stalks during harvest, linking old times to grain in one gesture.Quick recall
An eagle's claw scored the earth in old times, sprouting the grain-laden Rice Plant.Details
The keyword for 稲 is rice plant. This kanji refers specifically to the rice plant as it grows in the paddy field, encompassing the entire plant from its roots to its grain-bearing stalks. It represents one of the most culturally and agriculturally significant crops in East Asia, particularly in Japan, where rice cultivation has shaped the landscape, economy, and traditions for millennia. The kanji is commonly seen in words related to rice farming and harvest, as well as in Japanese surnames and place names.
- On'yomi
- とう、て
- Kun'yomi
- いね、いな-