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Kotomora

畱

to detain, to entertain, to keep, to put by

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Readings

On'yomi

  • リュウ
  • ル

Kun'yomi

  • と.める
  • と.まる
  • とど.める
  • とど.まる
  • るうぶる

Meaning

畱 centers on holding something in place: detaining a person, keeping an object, or putting something aside for later. The entertain sense is a specific application of keeping a guest.

Study

Etymology

畱 is an older form of 留. The modern 留 is a simplification, while 畱 preserves a more complex upper component. The character likely combines 田 (field) with a phonetic element, but the exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The bottom 田 is a field, and the upper part looks like a complicated gate. Imagine detaining someone at the gate of a field, keeping them there.

Reading mnemonic

For リュウ, think of a detainee named Ryu who is kept at the field gate: Ryu -> リュウ.