嬬
mistress, weak
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- ジュ
Kun'yomi
- よわ.い
Nanori
- つま
Meaning
嬬 centers on a woman of subordinate status: a mistress or concubine, and by extension someone perceived as weak or delicate.
Study
Etymology
嬬 combines 女 (woman) with 需, which likely contributes the sound and may carry a sense of softness or need, fitting the idea of a weak or dependent woman.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 beside 需, which looks like rain 雨 over a soft beard 而, suggests a delicate, dependent figure—a mistress who is seen as weak.
Reading mnemonic
For ジュ, imagine a mistress named Julie who is weak and needs care: Julie -> ジュ, and she leans on the woman radical for support.