嬲
sport with, ridicule, tease
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- ドウ
- ジョウ
Kun'yomi
- なぶ.る
Meaning
嬲 centers on playful or mocking interaction: teasing, ridiculing, or sporting with someone in a way that can be lighthearted or mean-spirited.
Most common words using 嬲
Study
Etymology
嬲 is composed of 女 (woman) between two 男 (man) components, suggesting a woman being teased or played with by two men. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component arrangement strongly supports the teasing meaning.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a woman (女) caught between two men (男) who are teasing and playing with her: the arrangement itself shows the sport and ridicule.
Reading mnemonic
For ドウ, imagine the teasing scene as a playful 'dough' fight: dough -> ドウ, with the woman dodging dough balls thrown by the two men.