鬁
favus
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- リ
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
鬁 refers to favus, a fungal scalp infection causing crusty patches and hair loss. Its meaning is narrowly medical and has no broader conceptual center.
Study
Etymology
鬁 combines 髟 (hair) with 利, which likely provides the sound. The character is a phono-semantic compound for a scalp disease.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 髟 represents hair, and the bottom 利 suggests sharpness or advantage. Imagine a sharp, crusty infection taking advantage of the scalp, causing hair loss.
Reading mnemonic
For リ, picture a leek (リーキ) growing on the scalp like the crusty patches of favus: leek -> リ.