悍
rough, clumsy, violent
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- たけし
- あらし
Meaning
悍 centers on a rough, forceful, and uncontrolled quality: something clumsy, violent, or wild in manner.
Most common words using 悍
- 精悍せいかん
virile; tough; masculine; sharp (features, look, etc.); fierce; dauntless
- 凶悍きょうかん
heinousness; ferocity
- 剽悍ひょうかん
fierce; daring; savage; intrepid
- 剽悍無比ひょうかんむひ
as fierce and nimble as any; daring and agile without equal
- 勁悍けいかん
strong and fierce
- 悍婦かんぷ
bad-tempered woman; shrew; vixen; virago
- 悍馬かんば
unruly horse; unmanageable horse; unbroken horse
Study
Etymology
悍 combines the heart radical 忄 with 旱, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest dryness or harshness, together conveying a rough or violent temperament.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart radical 忄 beside 旱 (dry, drought) suggests a heart that is parched and harsh, leading to rough, clumsy, and violent behavior.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine a rough, violent person swinging a can: can -> カン, and their clumsy actions knock things over.