乖
oppose, disobey
Strokes8
Readings
On'yomi
- カイ
Kun'yomi
- そむ.く
- もとる
Meaning
乖 centers on going against what is expected or commanded: opposing, disobeying, or deviating from a standard.
Most common words using 乖
Study
Etymology
乖 is thought to combine 北 (back-to-back, opposing) with a phonetic element, reinforcing the idea of divergence or opposition. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top looks like a person turning away, and the lower parts suggest two separate paths. Picture someone deliberately walking the opposite way to oppose or disobey.
Reading mnemonic
For カイ, imagine a defiant kite flying against the wind: kite -> カイ, and the kite opposes the breeze just as 乖 means to oppose.