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Kotomora

耍

frolic, play, amuse, play with

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • サ
  • シャ

Kun'yomi

  • すばや.い

Meaning

耍 centers on lighthearted, playful activity: frolicking, amusing oneself, or playing with something in a carefree way.

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Etymology

耍 combines 而 (originally a beard or whiskers, later used phonetically) with 女 (woman), suggesting playful or frolicking behavior. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

A woman (女) with a beard (而) is playing around and frolicking, amusing everyone.

Reading mnemonic

For サ, imagine a playful woman saying 'Sa!' as she jumps into a frolic: Sa -> サ.