靱
soft, pliable, quiver
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- ジン
- ニン
- サ
- サイ
- サツ
Kun'yomi
- うつぼ
- うつお
- しな.やか
- ゆぎ
Meaning
靱 centers on flexibility and resilience: something soft and pliable, like leather, that can bend without breaking. The quiver meaning is a specific application—a soft leather case for arrows.
Most common words using 靱
Study
Etymology
靱 combines 革 (leather) with 刄 (a variant of 刃, blade), suggesting leather that is tough yet pliable, like a blade that bends. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the components point to the idea of flexible strength.
Meaning mnemonic
Leather (革) is soft and pliable, and the right side looks like a blade (刄) that can bend without snapping. Picture a flexible leather quiver holding arrows—tough but not rigid.
Reading mnemonic
For ジン, imagine a soft leather quiver filled with gin bottles: gin -> ジン, and the leather keeps them safe and pliable.