憍
be haughty, proud, arrogant
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
Kun'yomi
- ほしいまま
Meaning
憍 centers on an inflated sense of self: being haughty, proud, or arrogant. The given meanings all describe a person who looks down on others.
Study
Etymology
憍 combines the heart radical 忄 with the phonetic component 喬, which likely contributes the sound and may carry a sense of height or loftiness, fitting the idea of arrogance.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart radical 忄 beside 喬 (which can suggest tallness) paints a picture of a heart that is puffed up and looking down on others—a proud, haughty attitude.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a proud person in Kyoto (京都, きょうと) looking down on everyone: Kyoto -> キョウ, and their heart is full of arrogance.