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Kotomora

覷

peep at, watch, spy on

Strokes19

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソ
  • ショ
  • キョ
  • シュ
  • ス

Kun'yomi

  • うかが.う
  • み.る
  • あら.い

Meaning

覷 centers on observing someone or something secretly or intently: peeping at, watching, or spying on.

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Etymology

覷 combines 虚 (void, emptiness) with 見 (see), suggesting looking into emptiness or peeping secretly. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure is plausible.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 虚 suggests a hollow or hidden space, and the right side 見 is an eye. Imagine peeping through a crack into an empty room to spy on someone.

Reading mnemonic

For ソ, picture a spy peeping so quietly that the only sound is a soft 'so...' of breath: so -> ソ.