殄
all, completely
Readings
On'yomi
- テン
Kun'yomi
- た.つ
- つき.る
- つく.す
Meaning
殄 centers on total exhaustion or completeness: using something up entirely, or reaching an all-encompassing end. The given meanings 'all' and 'completely' both point to this idea of thoroughness or finality.
Most common words using 殄
- 殄滅てんめつ
complete and utter annihilation
Study
Etymology
殄 combines 歹 (death, bad) with 㐱, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character is associated with the idea of ending or using up completely.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 歹 suggests something ending or dying out, and the right side 㐱 looks like a person with flowing hair, perhaps representing everything being swept away. Together they show something being used up completely until nothing remains.
Reading mnemonic
For テン, imagine using up ten of something completely: ten -> テン, and after using all ten, nothing is left.