颷
whirlwind
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒョウ
Kun'yomi
- つむじかぜ
Meaning
颷 centers on a violent, spinning wind: a whirlwind. The single given meaning is a specific meteorological phenomenon.
Study
Etymology
颷 combines 風 (wind) with 炎 (flame, blaze), suggesting a wind that carries or is like fire—a fierce, swirling wind. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component choice is visually descriptive.
Meaning mnemonic
Inside the wind enclosure 風, two flames 炎 are whipped into a spiral. Picture a whirlwind of fire and wind: 颷 is a whirlwind.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒョウ, imagine a whirlwind howling like a hyena: hyena -> ヒョウ, and the spinning wind sounds like its wild cry.