粉

こな · kona · JLPT N3 · noun

flour

粉 — flour

🌾 粉 = 米 rice + 分 divide: rice split into tiny bits is powder

The kanji puts 米 (rice, grain) next to 分 (to divide), so it means grain broken down until only powder is left. For the sound kona, think of Kona coffee: grind the beans and you get a powder, こな.

粉 — rice 米 + divide 分
A semantic-phonetic compound: 米 (rice/grain) gives the meaning, while 分 (fēn, 'divide') hints at the sound. It originally referred to rice flour or finely ground powder, then extended to any powder and to the pale pinkish color of such powders.

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