Mnemonic
A phoenix was reborn nine times, but each rebirth made it a little less majestic. By the ninth life, it emerged as a humble pigeon—cooing softly in a city park, bewildered at its lost flames. Nine lives of decline turned a legendary bird into the most ordinary one.
Additional thoughts
Picture the phoenix shrinking and dulling with each rebirth: feathers fading from gold to gray, flames sputtering out, until only a plump pigeon remains on rebirth number nine.Quick recall
A phoenix reborn nine times loses all its glory and becomes a plain pigeon.Details
The keyword for 鳩 is pigeon. This kanji refers to the pigeon or dove, a familiar bird known for its cooing call and its historical use as a messenger. The character has long been associated with these gentle, plump birds commonly seen in parks and urban areas throughout Japan. It can also carry connotations of gathering or assembling, as pigeons tend to flock together.
- On'yomi
- きゅう、く
- Kun'yomi
- はと、あつ.める