box-on-side enclosure radical (no. 22)
匚 represents a box or container lying on its side, used primarily as a radical in other characters. Its standalone meaning is limited to this enclosure concept.
匚 is a pictograph of a box or container turned on its side. The modern form retains this simple enclosure shape.
The shape 匚 looks like a box lying on its side, with the open side facing right. Picture a container ready to hold something.
For ホウ, imagine a box that makes a hollow sound when tapped: hollow -> ホウ, and the box shape 匚 echoes the sound.
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kanji "box-on-side" radical (radical 22)