掏
pickpocket
Strokes11
Readings
On'yomi
- トウ
Kun'yomi
- す.る
- えら.ぶ
Meaning
掏 centers on stealthily taking something from a person, specifically pickpocketing.
Most common words using 掏
- 掏るする
to pickpocket; to steal
Study
Etymology
掏 combines 扌 (hand) with 匋, which likely contributes the sound and relates to scooping or extracting, fitting the idea of a hand removing something from a pocket.
Meaning mnemonic
The hand radical 扌 beside 匋 suggests a hand reaching into a container-like shape to pull something out, like a pickpocket slipping a hand into a pocket.
Reading mnemonic
For トウ, imagine a pickpocket reaching into a toe of a shoe to steal something: toe -> トウ, and the hand sneaks in.