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Kotomora

啣

hold in mouth or between teeth

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン

Kun'yomi

  • くわ.える
  • くつわ

Meaning

啣 centers on holding something in the mouth or between the teeth, like a dog carrying a bone or a horse accepting a bit.

Study

Etymology

啣 combines 口 (mouth) with 卸, which likely contributes the sound カン and relates to the idea of holding or carrying. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The mouth radical 口 beside 卸 suggests a mouth holding onto something. Picture a horse with a bit in its mouth, firmly held between its teeth.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a can held in a dog's mouth: can -> カン, and the dog carries it proudly.