脧
reduce, contract, exploit, reproductive organ of infant
Readings
On'yomi
- サイ
- スイ
- サ
- セン
Kun'yomi
- へる
Meaning
脧 centers on reduction or contraction, with a rare anatomical sense referring to an infant's reproductive organ. The meanings do not share one clear conceptual center; the reduction sense and the anatomical sense are distinct.
Study
Etymology
脧 combines the flesh radical ⺼ with 夋, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, and the connection between the reduction sense and the anatomical sense is unclear.
Meaning mnemonic
The flesh radical ⺼ suggests a body part, while 夋 looks like a person walking away. Imagine a body part that shrinks or reduces, like an infant's organ, or the idea of contracting flesh.
Reading mnemonic
For サイ, picture a sigh of relief as a swelling reduces: sigh -> サイ, and the flesh radical ⺼ shows the body part contracting.