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Kotomora

謔

sport with

Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ギャク
  • キャク

Kun'yomi

  • たわむ.れる

Meaning

謔 centers on playful, teasing interaction: joking, bantering, or sporting with someone in a light-hearted way.

Most common words using 謔

  • 諧謔かいぎゃく

    joke; jest; banter

  • 滑稽諧謔こっけいかいぎゃく

    smooth-talking and humorous; with jocose and comical airs

  • 諧謔を弄するかいぎゃくをろうする

    to crack jokes

Explore all words using 謔 →

Study

Etymology

謔 combines 言 (speech) with 虐, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest playful or teasing talk. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The speech radical 言 beside 虐 (which can suggest harshness) creates a picture of words used in a teasing, playful way—sporting with someone through banter.

Reading mnemonic

For ギャク, imagine a playful 'gyak' sound as someone teases a friend: the invented sound 'gyak' cues ギャク while the speech radical hints at joking.