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Kotomora

殀

dying young

Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヨウ

Kun'yomi

  • わかじに

Meaning

殀 centers on the tragedy of a life cut short: dying young, before reaching full maturity.

Study

Etymology

殀 combines 歹 (death) with 夭 (young, tender), suggesting the idea of dying while still young. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination is consistent with the meaning.

Meaning mnemonic

The death radical 歹 beside 夭 (young) paints a stark picture: a young life cut short. Think of a tender sprout 夭 withering beside a coffin 歹.

Reading mnemonic

For ヨウ, imagine a young person's life ending too soon, like a yo-yo that snaps and falls still: yo -> ヨウ, and the string breaks.