窘
rebuke
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- キン
Kun'yomi
- たしな.める
- くるし.む
Meaning
窘 centers on confronting someone with their fault: a sharp verbal correction or rebuke meant to make them feel the weight of their mistake.
Most common words using 窘
- 窘めるたしなめる
to chide; to rebuke; to reprove
Study
Etymology
窘 combines 穴 (cave, hole) with 君 (lord, ruler). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it likely originally depicted a lord trapped in a cave, metaphorically cornered and rebuked.
Meaning mnemonic
A lord (君) is trapped inside a cave (穴), and people outside are shouting rebukes at him for his mistakes. The cave echoes with their sharp words.
Reading mnemonic
For キン, imagine the sharp rebuke stinging like a kin (キン) sound—a high, ringing note that makes the lord wince inside the cave.