nucleus

(tree) + (pine cone)
★★☆☆☆
10 strokes

Onyomi

KAKU

Mnemonic

The pine cone is the nucleus of the tree, from which new trees start. Similarly, the COCK is the nucleus of the human male. (cf. every female stand-up comic)

Kunyomi

かく nucleus or kernel LAZY
★★☆☆☆

Jukugo

核兵器(かくへいき)

nuclear weapons ★☆☆☆☆
(nucleus) + (arms) = 核兵器 (nuclear weapons)

陰核(いんかく)

clitoris ☆☆☆☆☆ SARC
(shady) + (nucleus) = 陰核 (clitoris)

clitoris - not a word you'd use in most conversations, but I'm including it anyway because the literal translation is so irresistable: hidden nucleus! How boss is that?

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
cough MOUTH
nucleus TREE
engrave SWORD
correspond to SAY
whittle down CARROT

You cough with your MOUTH.

The seed is the nucleus of a TREE,

but you carve with a SWORD.

My words correspond to what I SAY.

You whittle a what?? a CARROT,dummy.