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Kotomora

扃

door bar placed outside a door

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ
  • キョウ
  • ヘン

Kun'yomi

  • かんぬき
  • とびら

Meaning

扃 refers to a horizontal bar used to lock a door from the outside, essentially a door bolt or latch. Its meaning is specific to this physical object and its function.

Study

Etymology

扃 combines 户 (door) with 冋, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character represents a door bar or bolt used to secure a door from the outside.

Meaning mnemonic

The outer 户 is a door, and the inner 冋 looks like a bar slid across it. Picture a heavy wooden bar placed outside a door to lock it shut.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a key (ケイ) sliding into the door bar to lock it: key -> ケイ, and the bar secures the door.