曷
why, how, when
Strokes9
Readings
On'yomi
- カツ
Kun'yomi
- なんぞ
- いつ
- いずくんぞ
- なに
Meaning
曷 centers on questioning: asking why, how, or when something is the case. It is a classical interrogative character whose core idea is seeking an explanation or time.
Study
Etymology
曷 is an ancient interrogative character. The top 曰 is often associated with speech or saying, and the lower part 匃 may have contributed a phonetic element, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 曰 looks like a mouth speaking, and the bottom 匃 resembles a person bending over with a question mark. Picture someone asking 'why, how, when?' with a puzzled expression.
Reading mnemonic
For カツ, imagine a cat (kat) asking 'why?' with a tilted head: kat -> カツ, and the cat's curious meow matches the questioning meaning.