痒
itchy
Readings
On'yomi
- ヨウ
Kun'yomi
- かゆ.がる
- かさ
- かゆ.い
Meaning
痒 centers on the sensation of itchiness, often associated with skin irritation or a desire to scratch.
Most common words using 痒
- 痒いかゆいN3
itchy
- 痒みかゆみN3
itch; itching; itchiness
- むず痒いむずがゆい
itchy
- 掻痒そうよう
itch; itching
- 掻痒感そうようかん
itchiness; itching; itching sensation
- 掻痒症そうようしょう
pruritus; itching
- 止痒剤しようざい
antipruritic agent; antipruritic drug
- 止痒薬しようやく
antipruritic agent; antipruritic drug
- 痒がるかゆがる
to complain of itching; to be bothered by an itch (or rash, etc.); to feel itchy; to have an itch (or rash, etc.); to itch
- 痒疹ようしん
rash that accompanies a severe itch; prurigo
- 痛くも痒くもないいたくもかゆくもない
of no concern at all; I couldn't care less; no skin off my nose
- 痛し痒しいたしかゆし
delicate situation; choice of two evils; mixed blessing
- 痛痒つうよう
pain and itching
- 痛痒いいたがゆい
painfully itchy; painful and itchy
- 痛痒を感じないつうようをかんじない
to neither itch nor feel pain; to not be affected by something; to not feel the effects of something
- 鎮痒剤ちんようざい
antipruritic agent; antipruritic drug
- 鎮痒薬ちんようやく
antipruritic agent; antipruritic drug
- 隔靴掻痒かっかそうよう
being frustrated because something is not quite as hoped (just as one cannot scratch an itch from outside a shoe); having an itch that one cannot scratch
- 麻姑掻痒まこそうよう
things happening exactly as one pleases (wishes); someone being very attentive to one's wishes
Study
Etymology
痒 combines 疒 (sickness) with 羊, which likely contributes the sound. The character expresses the idea of an itchy, irritating condition.
Meaning mnemonic
The sickness enclosure 疒 wraps around a sheep 羊. Imagine a sheep with a skin condition, constantly scratching because it feels itchy.
Reading mnemonic
For ヨウ, picture a sheep (羊, よう) inside the sickness enclosure, and its constant scratching makes you say 'Yo, you need to stop itching!' The sheep's reading よう cues ヨウ.