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Kotomora

寽

handful, pinch

Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • リン
  • リチ
  • リツ

Kun'yomi

  • と.る
  • つま.む

Meaning

寽 centers on grasping a small amount with the fingers: a handful or a pinch. The two meanings are closely related, both describing a small quantity held between the fingers.

Study

Etymology

寽 combines 爫 (claw, hand) with 寸 (hand, measurement), suggesting a hand grasping or measuring a small amount. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning of a handful or pinch.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 爫 is a claw-like hand reaching down, and the bottom 寸 is another hand with a measuring sense. Together they show a hand pinching a small amount, like taking a pinch of salt.

Reading mnemonic

For リン, imagine a hand pinching a tiny pinch of glitteringリン (rin) gold dust. The sound of 'rin' echoes the small, precise pinch.