熏
smoke, fog, vapor, cure
Strokes14
Readings
On'yomi
- クン
Kun'yomi
- くす.べる
- ふす.べる
- いぶ.す
- いぶ.る
- くす.ぶる
- くゆ.らす
Meaning
熏 centers on smoke and its effects: filling a space with smoke or vapor, and using smoke to cure or preserve something.
Most common words using 熏
- 熏蒸剤くんじょうざい
fumigant
Study
Etymology
熏 is thought to depict smoke rising from a fire or incense burner, with the upper part representing the smoke and the lower 灬 (fire) providing the source. The modern form retains this general idea, though the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part looks like heavy smoke rising, and the bottom 灬 is fire. Picture a fire producing thick smoke that fills the air and cures meat hanging above it.
Reading mnemonic
For クン, imagine a coon (a raccoon) getting smoked out of a chimney: coon -> クン, and the smoke drives it out.