豸
snake, legless insect, badger or clawed dog radical (no. 153)
Strokes7
Readings
On'yomi
- タイ
- チ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
豸 centers on legless creeping creatures: a snake or a legless insect. The radical sense extends this to clawed animals like badgers, reflecting the character's use as a component in animal-related kanji.
Most common words using 豸
Study
Etymology
豸 is a pictograph of a legless creature, likely a snake or worm, with the modern form retaining a stylized body and head. The radical meaning extended to clawed animals through its use in characters for beasts.
Meaning mnemonic
The top strokes suggest a head, and the lower curved strokes a long, legless body. Picture a snake slithering without legs: 豸 is a legless creature.
Reading mnemonic
For タイ, imagine a legless snake tying itself into a knot: tie -> タイ, and the snake's body forms the knot.