偶
accidentally, even number, couple, man & wife, same kind
Readings
On'yomi
- グウ
Kun'yomi
- たま
Meaning
偶 centers on things that come together by chance or in pairs: an accidental meeting, a couple, or two things of the same kind. The 'even number' sense is a natural extension of pairing.
Most common words using 偶
20 of 74- 偶たまN3
occasional; infrequent; rare
- 偶ぐう
even number; even
- 偶然ぐうぜんN3
coincidence; chance; accident; fortuity
- 偶にたまにN4
occasionally; once in a while; now and then
- 配偶はいぐう
combination
- 偶像ぐうぞうN1
image; idol; statue
- 偶発ぐうはつ
sudden outbreak; accidental; incidental
- 偶数ぐうすうN2
even number
- 土偶どぐう
earthen figure; clay figure
- 対偶たいぐう
pair; couple
- 木偶でく
wooden doll; wooden figure
- 配偶者はいぐうしゃN1
spouse; wife; husband; partner
- 偶さかたまさか
coincidentally; by chance; unexpectedly; accidentally; randomly
- 偶人ぐうじん
puppet; doll
- 偶作ぐうさく
something accidentally accomplished; two working together
- 偶像化ぐうぞうか
idolization; idolisation
- 偶像崇拝ぐうぞうすうはい
idolatry; idol worship
- 偶像崇拝者ぐうぞうすうはいしゃ
idol worshipper; idol worshiper; idolater
- 偶像教ぐうぞうきょう
idolatry
- 偶像教徒的ぐうぞうきょうとてき
idolatrous
Study
Etymology
偶 combines 亻 (person) with 禺, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of pairing or meeting. The exact historical development of 禺 is uncertain, but the character has long been associated with pairs and chance encounters.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 beside 禺, which looks like a pair of stacked boxes with a hook. Imagine two people accidentally meeting and forming a couple, like two matching boxes clicked together.
Reading mnemonic
For グウ, imagine a couple accidentally bumping into each other and saying 'Goo!' in surprise: goo -> グウ, and the accidental meeting makes them a pair.