KanjiJLPT N1
Brown

brown, woollen kimono

Mnemonic

Your overcoat hung in the sun all summer long. The fragrance of dried earth seeped into every thread, staining the fabric an irreversible, humble brown—the shade of a wandering monk's rough robes. No washing could undo what the sun and fragrance had done to that old overcoat.
Additional thoughts
Visualize a monk's coarse overcoat draped over a fence under blazing sun, absorbing the earthy fragrance of the soil below. Over weeks it darkens to an unmistakable brown. Sun plus earth-fragrance equals natural dye.
Quick recall
An overcoat baked by the sun absorbs earthy fragrance, turning brown.

Details

The keyword for 褐 is brown. This kanji refers to the color brown, particularly a dark, coarse brown associated with rough cloth or garments made from crude, undyed fabric. In ancient times, it was used to describe the drab, earthy-toned clothing worn by common people or monks, linking the idea of humble attire with the dark brown color of unprocessed wool or hemp.
On'yomi
かつ

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