匚
box-on-side enclosure radical (no. 22)
Strokes2
Readings
On'yomi
- ホウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
匚 represents a box or container lying on its side, used primarily as a radical in other characters. Its standalone meaning is limited to this enclosure concept.
Most common words using 匚
- 匚構えはこがまえ
kanji "box-on-side" radical (radical 22)
Study
Etymology
匚 is a pictograph of a box or container turned on its side. The modern form retains this simple enclosure shape.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape 匚 looks like a box lying on its side, with the open side facing right. Picture a container ready to hold something.
Reading mnemonic
For ホウ, imagine a box that makes a hollow sound when tapped: hollow -> ホウ, and the box shape 匚 echoes the sound.