慳
regret, stinginess
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- ケン
- カン
Kun'yomi
- おし.む
Meaning
慳 centers on a tight, unwilling attitude toward giving or spending: regret over loss and stinginess in holding back resources.
Most common words using 慳
- 突慳貪つっけんどん
blunt; curt; brusque
Study
Etymology
慳 combines 忄 (heart) with 堅, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of being firm or tight, suggesting a heart that is tight with resources.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart radical 忄 beside 堅 (firm, hard) paints a picture of a heart hardened against giving: stinginess and regret over what might be lost.
Reading mnemonic
For ケン, imagine a stingy person named Ken who regrets every penny spent: Ken -> ケン, and his tight heart matches the kanji's meaning.