刁
tricky, sly, crafty, cunning
Strokes2
Readings
On'yomi
- チョウ
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
刁 centers on deceptive cleverness: being tricky, sly, crafty, or cunning in a way that outwits others.
Study
Etymology
The exact historical origin of 刁 is uncertain. It may have developed as a variant or simplification of another character, but its modern form is minimal and does not clearly point to a single ancient source.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape looks like a hook (亅) with a lid (一) on top, like a sly trap ready to snap shut. Think of a cunning trickster setting a hidden snare.
Reading mnemonic
For チョウ, imagine a sly character named Chou who is always pulling tricks: Chou -> チョウ, and his crafty schemes are as simple as this two-stroke kanji.