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Kotomora

蹩

to limp

Strokes19

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヘツ
  • ベチ

Kun'yomi

  • ふ.む

Meaning

蹩 centers on impaired walking: to limp or move with difficulty due to a foot or leg problem.

Study

Etymology

蹩 combines 敝 (worn-out, ruined) with 足 (foot), suggesting a damaged or impaired foot that causes limping. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is consistent with the meaning.

Meaning mnemonic

A worn-out (敝) foot (足) makes you limp. Picture a tattered shoe on a sore foot, forcing an uneven gait.

Reading mnemonic

For ヘツ, imagine a limping person saying 'hets' with each painful step: hets -> ヘツ, the sound of a labored limp.