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Kotomora

惝

dejected, dispirited, vague, faint, grand

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ
  • トウ

Kun'yomi

  • うっとり.する

Meaning

惝 centers on a mental state of emptiness or loss: feeling dejected, dispirited, or vague. The sense of 'grand' may be a rare or archaic extension, but the core idea is a hollow, faint emotional state.

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Etymology

惝 combines the heart radical 忄 with 尚, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development is uncertain, and the character is rare in modern Japanese.

Meaning mnemonic

The heart radical 忄 beside 尚 suggests a heart that is merely 'still' or 'yet'—emotionally suspended, leading to feelings of dejection and vagueness.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, imagine a dejected person giving a faint 'show' of emotion: show -> ショウ, but the heart is too dispirited to put on a real performance.