塌
fall in ruins, collapse
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- トウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
塌 centers on structural failure: falling into ruins or collapsing, as when a building or land gives way.
Most common words using 塌
- 塌菜たあさい
tatsoi (Brassica rapa); tah tsai; rosette bok choy
Study
Etymology
塌 combines 土 (earth) with a phonetic element that historically included 日 and 羽, suggesting earth collapsing or falling. The exact historical development of the right side is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is earth 土, and the right side looks like a structure with a roof, a sun 日, and feathers 羽. Imagine an earthen building where the roof and walls collapse into a pile of dirt and feathers.
Reading mnemonic
For トウ, picture a tall tower (トウ) of earth that suddenly collapses into ruins: tower -> トウ, and the earth gives way.