腕
arm, ability, talent
Readings
On'yomi
- ワン
Kun'yomi
- うで
Meaning
腕 centers on the arm as a physical limb, and by extension the skill or ability one wields with it, like talent.
Most common words using 腕
20 of 123- 腕うでN4
arm
- 腕時計うでどけいN1
wristwatch; watch
- 右腕みぎうで
right arm
- 腕前うでまえN1
ability; skill; facility
- 手腕しゅわん
ability; capability; skill
- 左腕ひだりうで
left arm
- 鉄腕てつわん
strong arm
- 凄腕すごうで
remarkable ability; mastery; brilliant technique
- 上腕じょうわん
upper arm
- 二の腕にのうで
upper arm
- 腕力わんりょくN1
strength in one's arms; physical strength; muscular strength
- 片腕かたうで
one arm
- 腕立て伏せうでたてふせ
push-up (exercise); press-up
- 敏腕びんわん
ability; capability; competence; skill
- 腕輪うでわ
bracelet; bangle
- 腕立てうでたて
push-up
- 腕立てうでだて
showing off one's physical strength; relying on one's physical strength in a fight
- 腕利きうできき
highly skilled; skillful; very capable; competent; able
- 腕組みうでぐみ
folding one's arms
- 腕章わんしょう
armband; arm band; brassard
Study
Etymology
腕 combines the flesh radical ⺼ (body part) with 宛, which likely contributes the sound ワン. The character originally referred to the arm.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side ⺼ is flesh, and the right side 宛 looks like a bent arm with a hand at the end. Picture a muscular arm flexing: that's 腕.
Reading mnemonic
For ワン, imagine a strong arm winning an arm-wrestling match: one -> ワン, and the winning arm shows real talent.