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JLPT N119画 · 19 strokesradical 艸freq #2124

seaweed, duckweed

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ソウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

Mnemonic

In the swamp, seaweed looks like green hair draping over the ground, while a duckweed floats peacefully on the surface, whispered by the gentle breeze.

About this kanji

The kanji 藻 (も, ソウ) primarily means "seaweed" or "duckweed." It is often used as a noun. Common compounds include 海藻 (かいそう), meaning "seaweed"; 藻掻く (もがく), which translates to "to struggle"; and 藻類 (そうるい), meaning "seaweeds." Another example is 褐藻 (かっそう), referring to "brown algae." A useful note is that while 藻 generally refers to aquatic plants, it can also extend to the idea of struggling in a metaphorical sense, as seen in the verb form. Understanding this kanji can enrich your grasp of related terms and concepts in both nature and language.

Example sentences

  • 水面に藻が浮かんでいる。

    Algae float on the water's surface.

Meanings across languages

English
seaweed, duckweed
Tiếng Việt
rong biển, rêu
日本語
藻, ウキクサ
한국어
해조류, 물풀
中文
海藻, 浮萍
id
rumput laut, eceng gondok
th
สาหร่าย, ผักตบชวา
es
alga, lenteja de agua
fr
algue, lentille d'eau
de
Seegras, Wasserlinsen
pt
alga, lenteja d'água

Common compounds

  • 海藻かいそうseaweed
  • 藻掻くもがくto struggle, to writhe, to wriggle
  • 藻類そうるいseaweeds, algae, waterweeds
  • 褐藻かっそうbrown algae, phaeophyceae
  • 珪藻けいそうdiatom
  • 紅藻こうそうred algae, Rhodophyta
  • 才藻さいそうpoetic talent
  • 藻草もぐさwater plant, seaweed, algae

Want to actually learn this kanji?

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