歉
insufficiency, lack, shortage
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- ケン
- カン
Kun'yomi
- あきたりない
Meaning
歉 centers on a state of not having enough: insufficiency, lack, or shortage of something needed.
Most common words using 歉
- 凶歉きょうけん
poor crops; famine
Study
Etymology
歉 combines 兼 (concurrently, combine) with 欠 (lack, yawn), suggesting a combined lack or insufficiency. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is plausible.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 兼 suggests holding multiple things at once, and the right side 欠 means lack. Picture trying to juggle too many tasks but always coming up short—there is a constant insufficiency.
Reading mnemonic
For ケン, imagine a ken (a traditional Japanese unit of length) that is too short to measure what you need, highlighting the shortage: ken -> ケン.