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Kotomora

酖

addiction, poison

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • タン
  • チン

Kun'yomi

  • ふ.ける

Meaning

酖 centers on a harmful substance that takes hold of a person: poison and the resulting addiction. The two meanings are connected by the idea of something toxic that entraps.

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Etymology

酖 combines 酉 (alcohol vessel, often related to fermentation or intoxication) with 冘, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a sense of sinking or being overcome. The character expresses poison or addictive intoxication.

Meaning mnemonic

The alcohol radical 酉 on the left and the sinking shape 冘 on the right suggest a person drowning in drink: poison or addiction that pulls you under.

Reading mnemonic

For タン, imagine a tan-colored poison bottle labeled with the kanji 酖: tan -> タン, and the bottle holds the addictive toxin.