孵
hatch, incubate
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- フ
Kun'yomi
- かえ.す
Meaning
孵 centers on bringing new life out of an egg: hatching and incubating. The idea is warmth and care leading to emergence.
Most common words using 孵
Study
Etymology
孵 combines 卵 (egg) with 孚, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of brooding or hatching. The exact historical development of 孚 is uncertain, but the egg component makes the meaning clear.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is an egg 卵, and the right side 孚 looks like a claw 爪 over a child 子. Picture a bird's claw gently warming an egg until a chick hatches.
Reading mnemonic
For フ, imagine a fluffy chick hatching from the egg: the first syllable of 'fluffy' cues フ, and the chick emerges warm and new.