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Kotomora

愊

sincere, honest, depressed

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヒョク
  • ヒキ
  • フク

Kun'yomi

  • まこと

Meaning

愊 centers on a heart/mind state of sincerity and honesty, but can also describe a heavy, depressed feeling. The meanings connect through the idea of an unguarded, genuine inner state, whether open and true or weighed down.

Study

Etymology

愊 combines the heart radical 忄 with 畐, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of 畐 is uncertain, but the character as a whole expresses inner states of sincerity or depression.

Meaning mnemonic

The heart 忄 beside 畐 (a container full to the brim) suggests a heart so full it cannot hide its true feelings—whether that fullness is honest openness or heavy sadness.

Reading mnemonic

For ヒョク, imagine a person so sincere they 'hyuck' (a soft, earnest laugh) when they speak from the heart: hyuck -> ヒョク.