佼
beautiful, clever, deceive, sly
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- こう.す
- うつく.しい
Meaning
佼 centers on a person who stands out for their striking qualities, whether that is physical beauty, sharp cleverness, or a sly, deceptive charm. The meanings split into two clusters: attractive/beautiful and cunning/deceptive, both describing a person who draws attention.
Most common words using 佼
- 立正佼成会りっしょうこうせいかい
Rissho Kosei-kai (offshoot of Nichiren-Buddhism founded in 1938)
Study
Etymology
佼 combines 亻 (person) with 交, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of crossing or mixing, possibly suggesting a person who stands out or is involved in clever exchanges. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 who crosses 交 paths with others in a way that makes them notice: either for their striking beauty or their clever, sly nature.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a beautiful, clever person in Kyoto (京都, きょうと) who deceives with sly charm: Kyoto -> キョウ.