殁
die, death, dead
Strokes8
Readings
On'yomi
- ボツ
- モチ
Kun'yomi
- しぬ
Meaning
殁 centers on the end of life: dying, death, or being dead. The meanings are tightly clustered around the cessation of life.
Study
Etymology
殁 combines 歹 (death) with 殳, a component that may have originally depicted a weapon or action, together suggesting a violent or sudden end. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 歹 is the death radical, and the right side 殳 looks like a weapon. Picture a fatal blow bringing death.
Reading mnemonic
For ボツ, imagine a boat (ボート) sinking and everyone on board dying: boat -> ボツ, and the scene is one of sudden death.