覬
coveting high rank
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
覬 centers on desiring something beyond one's current station, specifically coveting high rank or status. It is a focused, ambitious longing rather than a general wish.
Most common words using 覬
- 覬覦きゆ
covetousness
Study
Etymology
覬 combines 豈 (likely contributing the sound) with 見 (to see), suggesting the idea of looking toward something with desire or ambition. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 豈 can be thought of as a drum on a stand, and the right side 見 is an eye. Imagine a person beating a drum while staring up at a high throne, coveting the rank of the one who sits there.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, picture a person coveting a high rank so intensely that they keep a key (キ) to the throne room hidden, always looking toward it with desire.