梅

Alternative forms
In, and  scripts, the right side component is written  (contains  with 2 dots). In Japanese, the component is simplified to (contains  with a single middle stroke). Due to, both characters (梅/梅) are encoded under the same Unicode codepoint. A CJK (U+FA44) exists for the  form of 梅.

Glyph origin
.

Etymology
Seemingly related to 🇨🇬 (Shibatani, 1990; Miyake, 1997; apud (which was possibly borrowed from Middle Chinese). Its origin is unknown ; its referent,, originated around the , now in south China yet initially outside the 's cradle in the.

Definitions

 * 1)  (Chinese plum or Japanese apricot)
 * 2)  A plant sharing similarities with  in habit, flowers or fruits
 * 1)  A plant sharing similarities with  in habit, flowers or fruits
 * 1)  A plant sharing similarities with  in habit, flowers or fruits

Descendants


Others:

Etymology 1


→ * → * → → * →

From.

Probably ultimately from,  with the borrowed me reading gaining a pronounced kind of initial m- sound, perhaps realized as *mme. The phonetic spelling was often rendered as from the,  with *mme/mume and ume apparently existing in free variation. The reading eventually settled on. Compare the similar pattern of phonetic shift for, likely from 🇨🇬.

Noun

 * 1) Japanese plum or ,
 * 2) a white plum blossom, as opposed to
 * 3) the lowest of a three-level rank system
 * 4) a  with varying designs of plum blossoms
 * 5)  a style of layering garments with dark crimson over light crimson
 * 6)  the suit of plum blossoms in, representing the month of February
 * : the second-highest ranked prostitute in Edo-period Kamigata, below the
 * 1)  a style of layering garments with dark crimson over light crimson
 * 2)  the suit of plum blossoms in, representing the month of February
 * : the second-highest ranked prostitute in Edo-period Kamigata, below the
 * : the second-highest ranked prostitute in Edo-period Kamigata, below the

Etymology 2
→ * → * →

Possibly from.

This reading becomes common during the, later falling into disuse.

Superseded by the ume reading above.

Noun

 * 1)  the Japanese plum or ,

Etymology 3
From a later borrowing of.

Noun

 * 1)  the Japanese plum or ,
 * : the second-highest ranked prostitute in Edo-period Kamigata, below the

Affix

 * 1) plum
 * 2)  East Asian rainy season
 * 3)  syphilis

Etymology
From.

Etymology
Possibly a shift from.

Noun

 * 1) the Japanese plum or ,

Usage notes

 * Also used phonetically as for.

Han character

 * 1) rattan