廖
empty, name
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- リョウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
廖 centers on emptiness or vacancy, often used in names where it may carry a sense of vastness or openness. The given meanings are narrow and the kanji is rare, so treat its standalone meaning as uncertain.
Study
Etymology
廖 combines 广 (building or cliff) with 翏, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character is associated with emptiness or a surname.
Meaning mnemonic
Under a wide roof 广, the inner part 翏 looks like feathers and ice, suggesting a hall so empty that only cold feathers remain. That emptiness is 廖.
Reading mnemonic
For リョウ, imagine a vast empty hall echoing with the sound of a low, drawn-out 'ryoouu' — the hollow cry of emptiness: ryou -> リョウ.