貊
barbarians
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- ハク
- ミャク
Kun'yomi
- えびす
Meaning
貊 refers to a group of ancient northern barbarians, a historical ethnic label. Its meaning is narrow and tied to that specific cultural context.
Study
Etymology
貊 combines 豸 (a beast-like radical often used in names of animals or foreign groups) with 百, which may have contributed a phonetic element. The character was used to name a northern tribe, likely chosen for its exotic or beast-associated connotation.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 豸 suggests a wild beast, and the right side 百 (hundred) hints at a large group. Picture a hundred fierce barbarians from the north, labeled with a beast-like character.
Reading mnemonic
For ハク, imagine a barbarian chief named Haku leading his hundred warriors: Haku -> ハク, and the hundred (百) on the right reinforces the image.