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Kotomora

拱

arch, fold arms

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • キョウ
  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • こまぬ.く
  • こまね.く

Meaning

拱 centers on the shape of an arch or the gesture of folding arms together, both suggesting a curved, enclosing form.

Most common words using 拱

  • 拱くこまねく

    to fold (one's) arms

  • 拱手きょうしゅ

    doing nothing (to help); watching with one's arms folded

  • 拱手傍観きょうしゅぼうかん

    stand idly by and watch

  • 拱門きょうもん

    archway

Explore all words using 拱 →

Study

Etymology

拱 combines 扌 (hand) with 共, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of joining or bringing together, as in folding hands into an arch.

Meaning mnemonic

The hand radical 扌 beside 共 suggests hands coming together to form an arch, like folding arms.

Reading mnemonic

For キョウ, imagine folding your arms into an arch while saying 'kyou' (today) in Japanese: 今日 (きょう) -> キョウ, and your hands form the arch.