Tuesday, 24 January 2012

White

Reading: HAKU, shiroi

Strokes: 5

Etymology: A pictograph of a long, pointed fingernail (popular in ancient China and also with contemporary guitar players).  Phonetically used to express white.

Another theory is a pictograph of an acorn, which is white on the inside.

Hint: Use sun + stroke.

Mnemonic:  SUNSTROKE LEAVES YOU WHITE (!?)


Combinations:

白書 (hakusho) white paper
面白い (omoshiroi) interesting
白人 (hakujin) Caucasian

(Based upon Henshall, 1998)

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