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Kotomora

啖

eat

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • タン

Kun'yomi

  • く.う
  • くらわ.す

Meaning

啖 centers on the act of eating, with a nuance of consuming or devouring.

Most common words using 啖

  • 啖呵たんか

    caustic words; defiant words

  • 健啖けんたん

    gluttony; voracity

  • 健啖家けんたんか

    glutton; gormandizer; gormandiser

  • 啖呵を切るたんかをきる

    to speak sharply (e.g. during a heated discussion or argument)

Explore all words using 啖 →

Study

Etymology

啖 combines 口 (mouth) with 炎, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest the heat of devouring food. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

A mouth 口 beside flames 炎: picture someone eating fiery hot food, devouring it eagerly.

Reading mnemonic

For タン, imagine a tanuki (たぬき) eating greedily: tanuki -> タン, and the tanuki's mouth is devouring everything.