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Kotomora

毌

pierce, penetrate, brace

Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン

Kun'yomi

  • つらぬ.く

Meaning

毌 centers on the idea of passing through or holding firm: piercing, penetrating, or bracing something. The brace sense likely extends from the idea of something that goes through and secures.

Study

Etymology

毌 is an ancient pictograph of a string or rod passing through an object, representing piercing or threading. The modern form retains the basic shape of a line through a frame.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a vertical line piercing through a box-like frame: the line goes straight through, penetrating and bracing the structure.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a can being pierced by a sharp rod: can -> カン, and the rod penetrates the metal.