韜
bag, wrapping
Readings
On'yomi
- トウ
Kun'yomi
- ゆぶくろ
- ゆみぶくろ
- つつ.む
Meaning
韜 centers on enclosing something in a soft container: a bag or wrapping. The idea is to cover and protect an object by putting it inside a flexible holder.
Most common words using 韜
- 六韜三略りくとうさんりゃく
The Six Secret Teachings and The Three Strategies of Huang Shigong (two ancient Chinese military treatises)
- 天津鞴韜てんしんふくとう
bellows (of the) imperial harbor; Shinto Buddhist doctrines
- 自己韜晦じことうかい
concealing one's talents, position, status, intentions, etc.
- 韜晦とうかい
concealing one's talents, status, intentions, etc.; maintaining a strict incognito; self-effacement
- 韜晦趣味とうかいしゅみ
propensity to efface oneself; being prone to conceal one's talent
- 韜略とうりゃく
strategy; tactics
Study
Etymology
韜 combines 韋 (tanned leather) with 舀, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a leather bag or sheath used for wrapping and storing items.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 韋 suggests leather, and the right side 舀 looks like a container with a lid. Imagine a soft leather bag used to wrap and protect a precious object.
Reading mnemonic
For トウ, picture a toe bag: a small leather pouch tied around your toe for safekeeping. Toe -> トウ, and the bag wraps around your toe.