狢
badger
Strokes9
Readings
On'yomi
- カク
- ハク
- バク
Kun'yomi
- むじな
Meaning
狢 centers on a specific animal: the badger. The meaning is concrete and does not extend into abstract ideas.
Most common words using 狢
Study
Etymology
狢 combines the animal radical 犭 with 各, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character is used for the badger, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The animal radical 犭 on the left hints at a creature, and the right side 各 looks like a badger's striped face with a snout. Together they make 狢, the badger.
Reading mnemonic
For カク, imagine a badger wearing a small cap: cap -> カク, and the badger's striped face peeks out from under it.