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Kotomora

皤

white, grey, corpulent

Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • ハ
  • ハン

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

皤 centers on a pale, whitish appearance, often associated with aging or plumpness. The given meanings—white, grey, and corpulent—connect through the image of a pale, full-bodied figure or greying hair.

Study

Etymology

皤 combines 白 (white) with 番, which likely contributes the sound. The character is used for a whitish or greyish appearance, and by extension for a plump, pale body.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is 白 (white), and the right side 番 looks like a plump figure with a full belly. Picture a pale, corpulent person whose skin has turned white and grey with age.

Reading mnemonic

For ハ, imagine a pale, plump person laughing heartily: 'Ha!' The sound 'Ha' cues ハ, and the laughter shakes their white, corpulent body.