圮

destroyed, ruined, to subvert, to injure

Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

やぶ.る
やぶ.れる
くつが.えす
くつが.える

Meaning

圮 centers on collapse and ruin: something destroyed, broken down, or subverted. The idea of injuring or overthrowing extends naturally from bringing something to ruin.

Study

Etymology

圮 combines 土 (earth) with 己, which likely contributes the sound. The idea of earth collapsing or being destroyed fits the meaning of ruin.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is earth 土, and the right side is 己, which looks like a twisted, broken structure. Picture the ground giving way and everything built on it crumbling into ruin.

Reading mnemonic

For ヒ, imagine a ruined building with a single surviving beam sticking out, shaped like the hiragana ひ (hi). The ひ beam is all that remains of the destroyed structure.