攵
strike, hit, folding chair radical variant (no. 66)
Strokes4
Readings
On'yomi
- ホク
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
攵 centers on striking or hitting, and is primarily used as a component (radical variant) in other characters rather than as a standalone kanji. Its meaning as a folding chair radical is a modern descriptive label for its shape.
Most common words using 攵
- 攵のぶん
kanji "strike" radical at right (radical 66)
Study
Etymology
攵 is a simplified variant of 攴, which depicts a hand holding a stick or whip, conveying the idea of striking. The modern form is a common radical abbreviation.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a hand holding a stick, ready to strike. The shape looks like a folding chair only as a modern visual reminder, but the original idea is a striking tool.
Reading mnemonic
For ホク, imagine a hawk striking its prey: hawk -> ホク, and the sharp strike matches the kanji's meaning.