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Kotomora

殢

be in great difficulty, greatly

Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • テイ
  • タイ
  • ケイ

Kun'yomi

  • つか.れる

Meaning

殢 centers on being stuck in a difficult, exhausting situation. The given meanings "be in great difficulty" and "greatly" suggest a state of extreme hardship or weariness.

Study

Etymology

殢 combines 歹 (death, decay) with 帶 (belt, sash), but the exact historical development is uncertain. It may have originally expressed a sense of being bound or trapped in a deadly situation.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 歹 suggests death or decay, and the right side 帶 looks like a tangled belt. Picture being tied up in a decaying, impossible situation—great difficulty.

Reading mnemonic

For テイ, imagine being in such great difficulty that you can only manage a weak "tay..." sound: tay -> テイ, as you struggle to speak.