脖

neck

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

ホツ
ボチ

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

脖 centers on the neck as a body part. The meaning is straightforward and anatomical.

Study

Etymology

脖 is a phono-semantic compound: the left side ⺼ (flesh/body part) indicates the meaning 'neck', while the right side 孛 likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of 孛 as a phonetic is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side ⺼ (flesh) suggests a body part, and the right side 孛 looks like a neck with a prominent bulge (perhaps an Adam's apple). Together they form 脖, the neck.

Reading mnemonic

For ホツ, imagine a hot compress on your neck: 'hot' sounds like ホツ, and the warmth soothes the neck area.