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Kotomora

扣

knock, strike, rap, tap, button

Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • たた.く
  • ひか.える

Meaning

扣 centers on a sharp, percussive action: knocking, striking, rapping, or tapping. The button sense is a natural extension—pressing a button is like a quick tap.

Study

Etymology

扣 combines 扌 (hand) with 口 (mouth), but the historical development is uncertain. It may have originally depicted a hand striking something, with 口 possibly representing a target or sound.

Meaning mnemonic

A hand 扌 beside a mouth 口: imagine knocking on a door with your hand, and the sound comes out like a voice from a mouth.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, picture a hand knocking on a hollow door: the deep 'ko' sound echoes—ko -> コウ.