沮
stop, prevent, defeated, dejected
Strokes8
Readings
On'yomi
- ソ
- ショ
Kun'yomi
- はば.む
Meaning
沮 centers on obstruction and its emotional result: stopping or preventing action, and the dejected or defeated feeling that follows being blocked.
Most common words using 沮
- 沮害そがい
check; obstruction; hindrance; impediment
Study
Etymology
沮 combines 氵 (water) with 且, which likely contributes the sound. The idea of water being dammed or blocked may connect to the meanings of stopping and dejection.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 meets a barrier 且, like a dam that stops the flow. When progress is blocked, you feel defeated and dejected.
Reading mnemonic
For ソ, imagine a dam so solid that it stops the water with a soft 'so' sound: so -> ソ, and the water is prevented from flowing.