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Kotomora

孽

evil, son of concubine, ghost

Strokes20

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゲツ
  • ゲチ

Kun'yomi

  • わきばら
  • ひこばえ
  • わざわ.い

Meaning

孽 centers on something born from a wrong or secondary source: a child of a concubine, an evil or ghostly presence, or a harmful offshoot. The meanings share the idea of a tainted or illegitimate origin.

Study

Etymology

孽 combines 薛 (a plant name) with 子 (child), historically used for a child born of a concubine, which extended to evil or ghostly connotations. The exact semantic development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 薛 looks like a tangled, weedy plant, and the right side 子 is a child. Picture an unwanted child growing like a weed in a troubled household, bringing evil or ghostly misfortune.

Reading mnemonic

For ゲツ, imagine a ghostly child getting revenge: the sound 'gets' (as in 'gets even') cues ゲツ, and the evil spirit returns to haunt.