蟠
coiled up
Readings
On'yomi
- ハン
Kun'yomi
- わだかま.る
- わらじむし
Meaning
蟠 centers on the idea of being coiled or curled up, like a snake or insect in a tight spiral. The meaning extends to a curled-up posture or a tangled, knotted state.
Most common words using 蟠
- 蟠りわだかまり
bad feeling; cares; ill feeling; grudge; sense of discomfort; discontent; reserve
- 蟠りなくわだかまりなく
with no ill feeling; openly; without reserve
- 蟠るわだかまる
to be harboured (of negative feelings or thoughts); to be rooted in one's mind; to lurk
- 蟠桃ばんとう
donut peach (Amygdalus persica var. compressa); UFO peach; flat peach; pan tao peach; Saturn peach; saucer peach
- 蟠踞ばんきょ
becoming firmly established; putting down strong roots
- 蟠龍はんりょう
coiled dragon; dragon coiled on the earth, which has not yet ascended to the sky
Study
Etymology
蟠 combines 虫 (insect/reptile) with 番, which likely contributes the sound. The character suggests a creature coiling or curling up.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 beside 番 (which can suggest a repeated pattern) gives the image of a bug curling into a tight spiral, like a pillbug rolling up.
Reading mnemonic
For ハン, imagine a coiled snake hissing 'han' as it tightens its coils: han -> ハン, and the snake is coiled up.