贔
strength, power
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
贔 centers on concentrated strength and power, often with a sense of heavy, sustained force or effort.
Most common words using 贔
- 贔屓ひいきN1
favour; favor; patronage; favouritism; favoritism; partiality
- 贔屓びいき
liking something; being partial to something; -phile
- 贔屓目ひいきめ
seeing things in a favourable light (favorable)
- 依怙贔屓えこひいき
favoritism; favouritism; partiality; prejudice; bias
- 縁者贔屓えんじゃびいき
nepotism
- 贔屓ひき
bixi; dragon with the shell of a turtle (Chinese mythology)
- 贔屓にするひいきにする
to favor; to favour; to show favor to; to show favour to; to be partial to; to be a regular customer of
- 贔屓の引き倒しひいきのひきたおし
doing someone a disservice by showing too much partiality; overly favouring someone to their detriment
- 贔屓目に見るひいきめにみる
to view in a favourable light; to look favourably on
- 贔屓贔屓ひいきびいき
each person supporting (patronizing) his (her) own favorite
Study
Etymology
贔 is composed of 貝 (shell, money) repeated three times, suggesting a pile of heavy shells or wealth, which conveys the idea of great strength or power needed to bear such weight. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
Three shells 貝 stacked together make a heavy, powerful pile. Imagine the strength needed to lift or support this triple weight.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, picture a person letting out a strong 'hee' sound as they lift the heavy triple-shell pile: hee -> ヒ, and the effort shows their power.