嗇
miserly, stingy, sparing
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- ショク
Kun'yomi
- やぶさ.か
- おし.む
Meaning
嗇 centers on extreme reluctance to give or spend: being miserly, stingy, or sparing to a fault.
Most common words using 嗇
Study
Etymology
嗇 is thought to combine 來 (wheat) with 㐭 (granary), suggesting storing grain carefully, which led to the idea of stinginess. The modern form is simplified and the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top looks like a person hoarding something, and the bottom 回 suggests a locked container. Picture a miser clutching a box tightly, unwilling to share.
Reading mnemonic
For ショク, imagine a miser shocked at the idea of spending money: shock -> ショク, and the stingy person refuses to let go.