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Kotomora

尲

limp, be embarrassed

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン
  • ケン

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

尲 centers on physical awkwardness and its social parallel: limping or being embarrassed. Both senses share the idea of unsteady, uncomfortable movement or feeling.

Study

Etymology

尲 combines 尢 (lame, weak) with 兼, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the structure suggests a phono-semantic compound related to physical impairment.

Meaning mnemonic

The outer 尢 suggests a weak or lame leg, and the inner 兼 looks like a hand holding two things at once. Picture someone trying to carry too much while limping, stumbling and feeling embarrassed.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a person limping with a cane: cane -> カン, and the cane helps them walk despite the awkwardness.