膽
gall bladder, bravery, courage
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- タン
Kun'yomi
- きも
Meaning
膽 centers on the gall bladder as an organ, and by extension the bravery or courage traditionally associated with it in East Asian thought.
Study
Etymology
膽 combines the flesh radical ⺼ (body part) with 詹, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to the gall bladder, with the extended meaning of courage arising from traditional associations.
Meaning mnemonic
The flesh radical ⺼ on the left marks this as a body part. The right side 詹 looks like a container with a lid, like the gall bladder storing bile. Together they form the organ linked to bravery.
Reading mnemonic
For タン, imagine a tan warrior whose gall bladder gives him courage: tan -> タン, and his bravery comes from the organ.