躬
body, self
Strokes10
Readings
On'yomi
- キュウ
- キョウ
Kun'yomi
- み
Meaning
躬 centers on the physical self: one's own body or person. It refers to the self in a concrete, embodied sense.
Most common words using 躬
Study
Etymology
躬 combines 身 (body) and 弓 (bow), likely suggesting a person bending the body, as when bowing. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is 身 (body), and the right side is 弓 (bow). Picture a person bowing deeply, bending their body like a bow. This physical act represents the self or one's own body.
Reading mnemonic
For キュウ, imagine a person bowing so deeply that their body makes a cute 'kyu' sound: kyu -> キュウ, and the bowing body represents the self.