恇
fear
Strokes9
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- つね
Meaning
恇 centers on fear, specifically a timid or apprehensive state of mind.
Study
Etymology
恇 combines the heart radical 忄 with 匡, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the structure suggests a phono-semantic compound where the heart radical indicates an emotion and 匡 provides the reading.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart radical 忄 next to 匡, which looks like a box or frame, can be remembered as a heart trapped in a box, trembling with fear.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a timid person in Kyoto (京都, きょうと) who is afraid of everything: Kyoto -> キョウ, and the heart is full of fear.