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Kotomora

剸

cut

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • タン
  • セン

Kun'yomi

  • き.る
  • さ.く
  • た.つ
  • ほしいまま

Meaning

剸 centers on the act of cutting or severing, with a nuance of decisive, focused action. The single given meaning 'cut' is the core idea.

Study

Etymology

剸 combines 專 (which historically relates to a spindle or focused action) with 刂 (knife), suggesting cutting with precision or authority. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure is plausible.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 專 looks like a focused, spinning tool, and the right side 刂 is a knife. Imagine a skilled craftsman using a sharp blade to cut with absolute precision and control.

Reading mnemonic

For タン, picture a tan piece of leather being cut cleanly by the knife: tan -> タン, and the blade slices through the material.