嬛
apt, clever, sycophant, flatterer
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- ケン
- ケイ
- ギョウ
Kun'yomi
- かた.い
Meaning
嬛 centers on a person who is clever and apt, but with a negative slant toward being a sycophant or flatterer. The meanings describe someone who uses their wits to ingratiate themselves.
Study
Etymology
嬛 combines 女 (woman) with 睘, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of the meaning is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 with a clever tongue 睘 (imagine the eye 罒 and mouth 口 parts of 睘 as watching and speaking) uses her wits to flatter and gain favor.
Reading mnemonic
For ケン, picture a clever Ken doll using flattery to win over a woman: Ken -> ケン, and his smooth talk matches the kanji's meaning.