戳
poke, prod
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- タク
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
戳 centers on a sharp, quick jab: poking or prodding something with a pointed object.
Study
Etymology
戳 combines 翟 (a long-tailed bird) with 戈 (a halberd or spear). The character likely expresses the idea of poking or prodding with a sharp weapon, possibly influenced by the bird's pecking motion.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 翟 suggests a bird with a sharp beak, and the right side 戈 is a spear. Imagine a bird pecking like a spear: that's poking and prodding.
Reading mnemonic
For タク, imagine poking a tack into a corkboard: tack -> タク, and the sharp point prods the surface.