儡
defeat
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- ライ
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
儡 centers on being broken or overcome: defeat. The meaning is narrow and concrete, without clear abstract extensions.
Most common words using 儡
Study
Etymology
儡 combines 亻 (person) with 畾, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of the meaning 'defeat' is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 beside the stacked fields 畾 looks overwhelmed, as if the heavy weight of the fields has defeated them.
Reading mnemonic
For ライ, imagine a defeated person lying down and crying out 'lie' in despair: lie -> ライ, and the person is defeated.