鼓

音読おんよみ: コ

訓読くんよみ: つづみ

画数かくすう: 13

部首ぶしゅ: 鼓（つづみ）

Meaning

Drum / Beat / Encourage.

  • 太鼓たいこ — drum; Japanese drum
  • 鼓動こどう — heartbeat; pulsation
  • 鼓舞こぶ — to inspire; to encourage
  • 舌鼓したつづみ — smacking one’s lips (at good food)
  • 和太鼓わだいこ — Japanese drums
  • 小鼓こつづみ — hand drum (kotsuzumi)
  • 鼓手こしゅ — drummer
  • 鼓つづみ — tsuzumi (hourglass drum)

A pictograph of a drum with sticks: from “to beat a drum” comes “to rouse, to encourage.” In compounds it keeps both senses — sound/beat and stirring up spirit or courage.

太

Think of a drumbeat that makes the sound feel bigger and the mood swell — that’s 太鼓たいこ: a beat that boosts spirit. Beat the drum to encourage.

舌
Forms

舌鼓したつづみ — to smack one’s lips (at delicious food)

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