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Kotomora

澁

astringent, harsh, uneven, rough

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジュウ
  • シュウ

Kun'yomi

  • しぶ
  • しぶ.い
  • しぶ.る

Meaning

澁 centers on a rough, puckering sensation: something astringent, harsh, or uneven in texture or manner. The meanings all point to a lack of smoothness or pleasantness.

Study

Etymology

澁 is an older form of 渋. It combines 氵 (water) with 歮, a component made of repeated 止 (stop) elements, suggesting water that does not flow smoothly—hence astringent or rough. The modern simplified form 渋 replaces the right side with a more compact shape.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 that is stopped by repeated barriers 止止止 becomes stagnant and rough, like an astringent taste that makes your mouth pucker.

Reading mnemonic

For ジュウ, imagine a rough, astringent juice that makes you pucker: juice -> ジュウ, and the harsh taste matches the kanji's meaning.