堙
close up, stop up
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- イン
Kun'yomi
- ふさ.ぐ
Meaning
堙 centers on blocking or sealing an opening: closing something up or stopping it up so nothing can pass through.
Study
Etymology
堙 combines 土 (earth) with 垔, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of blocking or filling. The character suggests using earth to stop up or close an opening.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is earth 土, and the right side 垔 looks like a container being filled. Picture piling earth into a hole to close it up completely.
Reading mnemonic
For イン, imagine an inn with its entrance stopped up by a mound of earth: inn -> イン, and the blocked doorway keeps everything closed.