羡
envy, admire, praise, covet
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- イ
- セン
- エン
Kun'yomi
- うらや.む
- あまり
Meaning
羡 centers on longing for something desirable that belongs to another: envy, coveting, or admiring with a wish to possess. The praise sense is a natural extension of looking up to something with desire.
Study
Etymology
羡 is a variant form of 羨, which combines 羊 (sheep) with 㳄 (drool), suggesting desire or longing, perhaps from the image of a sheep salivating over something desirable. The modern form replaces the upper 氵 with a simplified shape.
Meaning mnemonic
The top looks like a sheep 羊 with a little extra, and the bottom is 次 (next). Imagine a sheep eyeing the next pasture with drool, full of envy and admiration.
Reading mnemonic
For イ, picture an eager person saying 'Ee!' (イ) with wide eyes, coveting what someone else has.