pull, tease, play with
揄 centers on a hand action that draws something out or manipulates it lightly: pulling, teasing, or playing with something in a casual or mocking way.
揄 combines the hand radical 扌 with 俞, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development of 俞 is uncertain, but the character as a whole suggests a hand action related to pulling or teasing.
The hand radical 扌 beside 俞 looks like a hand reaching out to pull something or playfully tease it. Imagine a hand tugging at a loose thread or playfully poking someone.
For ヨウ, imagine a hand pulling a yo-yo: yo-yo -> ヨウ, and the hand teases the string up and down.
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