垠
limit, boundary
Strokes9
Readings
On'yomi
- ギン
- ゴン
Kun'yomi
- きし
- さか.い
Meaning
垠 centers on a dividing line or edge, especially one marked by earth: a limit, boundary, or border.
Study
Etymology
垠 combines 土 (earth) with 艮, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of a stopping point or limit. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is earth 土, and the right side 艮 looks like a stopper or a boundary marker. Picture an earthen mound marking the limit of a field.
Reading mnemonic
For ギン, imagine a silver (銀, ぎん) boundary marker stuck in the earth: 銀 -> ギン, and the shiny marker shows the limit.