苟
any, at all, in the least
Strokes8
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ク
Kun'yomi
- いやしく.も
Meaning
苟 centers on a minimal or conditional sense: something done just barely, at all, or in the least. It expresses a low threshold or a reluctant allowance.
Most common words using 苟
Study
Etymology
苟 is composed of 艹 (grass) on top and 句 below. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it is often associated with the idea of something temporary or conditional, possibly from the image of grass that is easily bent or a phrase that is conditional.
Meaning mnemonic
Grass 艹 bent under a phrase 句: imagine a blade of grass barely holding up a heavy sentence, doing just the least it can to stay upright.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, picture a tiny blade of grass barely holding up a heavy sentence, and a voice says 'Go!' as a reluctant command: Go -> コウ, the least you can do.