毆
beat, fight with fists, hit, to strike, brawl
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- オウ
- ク
Kun'yomi
- なぐ.る
- たた.く
Meaning
毆 centers on physical violence using the body: beating, hitting, striking, or brawling with fists.
Study
Etymology
毆 combines 區 (a container or area) with 殳 (a hand holding a weapon or tool), suggesting striking within a confined space or beating with an implement. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 區 looks like a boxed area, and the right side 殳 is a hand holding a striking tool. Picture someone trapped in a box being beaten with a stick.
Reading mnemonic
For オウ, imagine the sound of a punch landing: 'Ow!' The boxer cries 'Ow!' as he is beaten in the ring.