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On'yomi
トウ
TOU

pagoda · tower · steeple

Details

Strokes12
Frequency#1708
Radicalearth(3)

Stroke Order

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Strokes12

Component Breakdown

=

earth + 荅

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of earth and phonetic. Earth tower.

Symbolism

Tower, pagoda, stupa. Represents tower.

Spiritual Meaning

Buddhist architecture housing Buddha's relics. "Five-story pagoda" symbolizes cosmic structure, a sacred structure embodying Buddha's teachings.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Praying to the gods

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

堂塔伽藍

どうとうがらん

religious buildings (temples, shrines, pagodas, etc.); religious buildings (temples, shrines, pagodas, etc.)

Proverbs & Idioms

砂上の楼閣

さじょうのろうかく

A castle on sand

Something built on an unstable foundation