腋

armpit, side

Strokes12

Readings

腋 centers on the armpit area and, by extension, the side of the body near the arm.

腋臭わきが
body odor (odour); abnormal underarm odor
腋毛わきげ
underarm hair; armpit hair
腋窩えきか
armpit; axilla
千金の裘は一狐の腋に非ずせんきんのきゅうはいっこのえきにあらず
to rule a country requires many great men; an expensive fur coat will not be made with a single fox
縫腋ほうえき
stitched side of some traditional Japanese clothing; clothing with such a stitched side
縫腋の袍ほうえきのほう
robe with a round collar, stitched sides and a ran, worn by the emperor and high-ranking officials
腋生えきせい
axillary growth
腋窩動脈えきかどうみゃく
axillary artery; arteria axillaris
腋窩腺えきかせん
axillary gland
葉腋ようえき
leaf axil
闕腋けってき
unstitched, open side of some traditional Japanese clothing; clothing with such an open side
闕腋の袍けってきのほう
robe worn by military officials with a round collar, unstitched open sides and no ran

腋 combines the flesh radical ⺼ with 夜, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the idea of a concealed or side area.

The flesh radical ⺼ marks a body part, and 夜 (night) suggests a hidden, dark place. Picture the armpit as the shadowy side of the body.

For エキ, imagine an armpit that is so sweaty it feels like liquid 液 (えき) is dripping from it: 液 -> エキ, and the liquid comes from the armpit.