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Kotomora

揀

select

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン
  • ケン

Kun'yomi

  • えら.ぶ

Meaning

揀 centers on the act of choosing or selecting, often with a sense of careful discrimination.

Study

Etymology

揀 combines 扌 (hand) with 柬, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of separating or selecting. The exact historical development of 柬 is uncertain, but the character as a whole suggests picking out with the hand.

Meaning mnemonic

The hand radical 扌 beside 柬 suggests a hand carefully picking one item from a bundle or selection.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a hand selecting a can from a shelf: can -> カン, and the hand picks the right one.