郝

surname, place in today's Shanxi

Strokes10

Readings

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郝 is a proper noun used as a surname and a historical place name in modern Shanxi. It has no common standalone meaning beyond these references.

郝 combines 赤 (red) with the city enclosure ⻏ (阝), suggesting a place name. The exact historical development is uncertain.

The left side 赤 (red) and right side ⻏ (city wall) together suggest a red-walled city, which can help you remember it as a place name or surname.

For カク, imagine a red-walled city with a distinctive angular corner: the corner is a 'cuck' shape, like a cuckoo's beak, which cues カク.