厴
shell
Strokes19
Readings
On'yomi
- エン
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
厴 centers on a hard protective outer covering: a shell, like that of a mollusk or turtle.
Most common words using 厴
- 厴へた
operculum (of a shellfish)
Study
Etymology
厴 is a phono-semantic compound with 甲 (shell, armor) inside and 厭 likely contributing the sound エン. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
Inside the outer shape 厭, you see 甲, which looks like a turtle's shell with a cross pattern. Picture a hard shell enclosing and protecting what's inside.
Reading mnemonic
For エン, imagine an enormous shell that echoes when you tap it: the 'en' sound reverberates inside the shell, cueing エン.