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Kotomora

哽

sob, get choked up

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • むせ.ぶ

Meaning

哽 centers on the physical sensation of choking up with emotion, especially sobbing. The given meanings both describe a tight, obstructed feeling in the throat that makes speech or breath difficult.

Study

Etymology

哽 combines 口 (mouth) with 更, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to obstruction or change. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The mouth 口 is blocked by something hard 更, like a lump in the throat that makes you choke up and sob.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, imagine a person sobbing so hard they can only cough out the sound 'koh… koh…' — the choked cough 'koh' cues コウ.