戞
lance, tap or strike lightly
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- カツ
Kun'yomi
- ほこ
Meaning
戞 centers on a long weapon used for thrusting or a light striking action: a lance, or the act of tapping or striking lightly.
Study
Etymology
戞 is a rare character whose exact historical development is uncertain. It visually contains 戈 (halberd/weapon) at the bottom, which fits the lance meaning, but the upper component's origin is unclear.
Meaning mnemonic
The bottom 戈 is a weapon, and the top looks like a head with a crest above it. Imagine a lance with a decorated tip, used to tap or strike lightly in a ceremonial gesture.
Reading mnemonic
For カツ, picture a lance tapping a cutlet (カツ) lightly on a plate: the cutlet sound cues カツ while the lance makes a light strike.