殞
fall, die
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- イン
- ウン
Kun'yomi
- おち.る
- し.ぬ
Meaning
殞 centers on a sudden, often fatal downward motion: falling from a height or dying, especially in a violent or untimely way.
Study
Etymology
殞 combines 歹 (death, decay) with 員, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to dying or perishing, with the fall sense extending from the idea of dropping dead.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 歹 suggests death or decay, and the right side 員 looks like a person tumbling headfirst. Picture someone falling to their death: 殞 means to fall and die.
Reading mnemonic
For イン, imagine an inn where a tragic fall happens: inn -> イン, and the 歹 (death) radical marks the fatal fall.