掔
sturdy
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
- ケン
Kun'yomi
- かた.い
Meaning
掔 centers on being physically solid and unyielding: sturdy, firm, or hard. The single given meaning 'sturdy' captures this core idea of robust resistance to force.
Study
Etymology
掔 combines 臤 (a component associated with firmness or pulling) with 手 (hand), suggesting a hand that is firm or strong. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the structure points to the idea of sturdiness or hardness.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 臤 looks like a strong, solid structure, and the bottom 手 is a hand. Imagine a hand gripping something so tightly that it becomes sturdy and unbreakable.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, picture a sturdy can (カン) that cannot be crushed, no matter how hard the hand at the bottom squeezes it.