58

Lapis Lazuli


Radical Combination


Meaning

Lapis Lazuli

Mnemonic

The king will send his men with swords into your private rice paddy if you come across lapis lazuli. Even though this is your private land, he wants that lapis lazuli to make some new crowns and thrones for himself. Plus he's the king, so he can do whatever he wants. If you've never taken an art history class (or played Minecraft) you may never have come across lapis lazuli, but think of it as a pretty, blue precious stone that people really, really liked in the olden days.

Watch the king's swords digging in your private rice paddy and digging up huge chunks of lapis lazuli. This isn't fair, that lapis should belong to you.


Reading

On'yomi

る, りゅう

Kun'yomi

None

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

You run up and ask how this lapis lazuli thievery isn't illegal and one of the swordsmen just shouts, "Loophole (る)!" What? What loophole? What law says that the king gets to steal your stuff?

Imagine reading through a giant text called "The Law" and looking for this loophole the king's men claim to have about taking your lapis lazuli. You can't find it... but maybe if you search just a bit longer...


Found In Vocabulary