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Kotomora

挹

to bale out, to decant liquids

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ユウ
  • オウ

Kun'yomi

  • く.む

Meaning

挹 centers on transferring liquid from one container to another: bailing out or decanting. The core idea is controlled pouring or scooping by hand.

Study

Etymology

挹 combines 扌 (hand) with 邑, which likely contributes the sound. The hand radical suggests an action done by hand, consistent with bailing or decanting liquids.

Meaning mnemonic

The hand radical 扌 beside 邑: imagine a hand carefully tilting a vessel to decant liquid into another container.

Reading mnemonic

For ユウ, picture you bailing water from a boat: you -> ユウ, and your hand does the bailing.