夊
winter variant radical (no. 34)
Strokes3
Readings
On'yomi
- スイ
Kun'yomi
- ゆき
Meaning
夊 is a rare radical variant associated with winter. Its standalone meaning is unclear, and it primarily serves as a component in other characters.
Most common words using 夊
- 夊繞すいにょう
kanji "suinyō" radical (radical 35)
Study
Etymology
夊 is a variant form of the winter radical 夂, but the exact historical development and original pictographic meaning are uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape 夊 looks like a stylized foot or a trailing leg, often associated with winter in compound characters. Think of it as a frozen footprint in the snow.
Reading mnemonic
For スイ, imagine a winter scene where you see a swing covered in frost: swing -> スイ, and the cold swing reminds you of the winter radical.