耕
Mnemonic
A pine tree crashed beside the well, its roots ripping open the earth. Now you till that torn ground, plowing between splintered roots, splashing well water on stubborn clods to soften them as you till row after row until the field is ready for seed.
Additional thoughts
Picture the fallen pine tree lying across the well like a crossbar—its shape echoes the kanji's left-right structure. The violence of the fall makes the tilling feel urgent and physical.Quick recall
A fallen pine tree by the well forces you to till the uprooted earth into plantable rows.Details
The keyword for 耕 is till. This kanji refers to the act of plowing or cultivating the soil in preparation for planting crops. It conveys the labor-intensive process of breaking up and turning over earth to make it suitable for agriculture. By extension, it can also suggest the broader concept of diligent cultivation or working the land.
- On'yomi
- こう
- Kun'yomi
- たがや.す