坎
pitfall
Strokes7
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- あな
Meaning
坎 centers on a hidden danger in the ground: a pitfall or hole that traps the unwary.
Most common words using 坎
Study
Etymology
坎 combines 土 (earth) and 欠, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of a hollow or lacking space, together suggesting a pit in the ground.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is earth 土, and the right side 欠 looks like a person yawning or a gap. Picture a hidden gap in the earth that opens like a yawning mouth: a pitfall.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine a can hidden in a pitfall: can -> カン, and stepping on the can gives away the trap.