颶
storm
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- グ
- ク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
颶 centers on a violent windstorm, specifically a typhoon or hurricane. The single given meaning 'storm' is understood as a powerful wind event.
Most common words using 颶
- 颶風ぐふう
tornado; hurricane; typhoon
Study
Etymology
颶 combines 風 (wind) with 具, which likely provides the sound. The character is used for a violent windstorm, and the phono-semantic structure is typical for such weather terms.
Meaning mnemonic
The wind radical 風 wraps around 具, like a tool or implement caught in a fierce storm. Picture a piece of equipment being tossed by hurricane-force winds.
Reading mnemonic
For グ, imagine a huge gust of wind going 'goo' as it howls through the storm: goo -> グ, and the wind enclosure 風 reinforces the stormy scene.