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Learn Japanese @lemmy.ml x4740N @lemm.ee

Where does this extra stroke come from in the kanji for cicada?

I'm wondering where this extra stroke came from in the kanji for cicada that I have highlighted and would like an explanation since it doesn't match up with the kanji radicals on kanshudo

https://www.kanshudo.com/word/蝉/1387080?oq=蝉

3
learnjapanese @lemm.ee x4740N @lemm.ee
Where does this extra stroke come from in the kanji for cicada?
3 comments
  • @x4740N It looks normal to me? In general, 虫 means bug/insect. According to Wiktionary, it originally derived from an ancient Chinese snake glyph: https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%99%AB

    I didn't know about the etymology before, but it makes sense (given that 蛇 means "snake").

    • According to the Radicals for 虫 the stroke that I've highlighted doesn't come from them so I'm wondering what it is there for since the only Radicals for it are "丶" and "中"

      • from what i know, the kanji for "insect" is a fundamental radical itself, but if you really want a mnemotechnic, i'd say that 口 is the insect mouth biting an arm ム (not the real meaning of that but it kinda looks like an arm)

        based on this list