Radical Combination

Meaning

Primary

Chord

Alternatives

String, Bowstring

Mnemonic

This bow is mysterious because it's strung with a single chord. I guess that makes the chord both a musical instrument string as well as a bowstring. Pluck the chord and it shoots an arrow while making a perfect G note. So mysterious!

Note: We're using "chord" here as the fancy name for a musical instrument string (like in "the chords of a harp" or "strike a chord"). This kanji covers both musical strings and bowstrings!

Readings

On’yomi

げん

Kun’yomi

つる

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

Turns out this bow strung with a mysterious chord belongs to Genji (げん). Of course! Only someone as elegant and dramatic as Genji would own a bow that plays music when you pluck its string.

Found In Vocabulary