擂

grind, mash, grate

Strokes16

Readings

擂 centers on applying force to break something down into smaller pieces or a paste: grinding, mashing, or grating.

胡麻を擂るごまをする
N2
to flatter; to toady (to); to curry favor (with); to butter up; to grind sesame seeds
味噌を擂るみそをする
to flatter; to toady (to); to curry favor (with); to butter up
味噌擂り坊主みそすりぼうず
low-ranking monk (tasked with doing kitchen chores)
擂り胡麻すりごま
ground toasted sesame seeds; ground sesame
擂り餌すりえ
ground food
擂潰らいかい
grinding
擂盆らいぼん
mortar (for grinding)
擂鉢形すりばちがた
cone-shaped; conical
胡麻擂りごますり
sycophancy; toadying; apple-polishing; brown-nosing; sycophant; flatterer; toady; apple-polisher; brown-noser; ass-kisser

擂 combines 扌 (hand) with 雷, which likely contributes the sound ライ. The hand radical suggests an action done by hand, such as grinding or mashing.

The left side is a hand 扌, and the right side is thunder 雷. Imagine a hand grinding ingredients with the force and noise of thunder.

For ライ, picture grinding a lime with your hand: lime -> ライ, and the thunderous grinding turns it into paste.