獼
macacus monkey
Strokes20
Readings
On'yomi
- ビ
- ミ
Kun'yomi
- さる
Meaning
獼 refers specifically to a macaque monkey. It is a narrow zoological term with no broader conceptual center beyond that animal.
Study
Etymology
獼 combines the animal radical 犭 with 彌, which likely provides the sound. The character was created to name a specific kind of monkey.
Meaning mnemonic
The animal radical 犭 hints at a beast, and the right side 彌 looks like a tangled jungle canopy. Picture a macaque monkey swinging through that dense foliage.
Reading mnemonic
For ビ, imagine a macaque monkey making a high-pitched 'bee' sound as it swings: bee -> ビ.