惓
be respectful, grow tired
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- ケン
Kun'yomi
- うむ
Meaning
惓 centers on a state of mind that is either earnestly respectful or weary. The two meanings seem to describe opposite ends of mental effort: one of attentive deference, the other of resulting fatigue.
Study
Etymology
惓 combines 忄 (heart/mind) with 卷, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to curling or rolling up. The exact historical development linking the components to 'respectful' and 'tired' is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart radical 忄 beside 卷 suggests a mind that is either coiled in respectful attention or wound up to the point of exhaustion.
Reading mnemonic
For ケン, imagine a respectful but tired attendant named Ken who bows deeply: Ken -> ケン, and his heart 忄 is both earnest and weary.