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Kotomora

擗

to beat the breast

Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヘキ
  • ヒャク
  • ハク

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

擗 centers on a physical gesture of grief or distress: beating one's breast with the hands.

Study

Etymology

擗 combines 扌 (hand) with 辟, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to striking or separating. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The hand radical 扌 beside 辟 suggests using the hands to strike one's own chest in a gesture of mourning.

Reading mnemonic

For ヘキ, imagine someone beating their breast and making a hacking cough sound: hack -> ヘキ, as they strike their chest in grief.