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Kotomora

徊

wandering

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • カイ
  • クワイ
  • エ

Kun'yomi

  • さまよ.う

Meaning

徊 centers on aimless movement: wandering or roaming without a fixed destination.

Most common words using 徊

  • 徘徊はいかい

    wandering (around); roaming; loitering; prowling; hanging around

  • 低徊趣味ていかいしゅみ

    disposition toward rejecting mundane affairs and enjoying nature and art

  • 彷徊ほうかい

    walking around aimlessly

  • 深夜徘徊しんやはいかい

    loitering at night; late-night prowling

Explore all words using 徊 →

Study

Etymology

徊 combines 彳 (movement) with 回 (turn, revolve), suggesting going around in circles or wandering. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is plausible.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 彳 shows a path or step, and the right side 回 means to turn or revolve. Picture someone walking in circles, turning again and again, wandering without a clear direction.

Reading mnemonic

For カイ, imagine a wandering kite (カイト) drifting aimlessly in the sky: kite -> カイ, and the kite's path is a wandering loop.