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An Etymological Dictionary of Chinese Characters
Interpretations by Lawrence J. Howell and Hikaru Morimoto |
| Covering 6,500 Chinese characters as used in Japan |
Numerically Minor Word Families
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KONG Frame + Curvature + Extension
The terms in this word family suggest curvature in an extensive object: a winding building in 宮, a winding passage in 窮, and a curved tent in 穹.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find curvature in an extensive object reprised in a campfire (熊) and a body bent in a bow shape (躬).
宮 (10) キュウ；ク；グウ；みや
宀 roof/building + two squares indicating spaces within a building → winding building with many rooms → (Imperial) palace; mansion → prince/princess; (Shinto) shrine.
窮 (15) キュウ；きわ（まる・める）
As per 躬 (Type 1 Phonetic) (body bent over, suggesting the shape of a bow) + 穴 hole → hole leading into a winding passage → be blocked/stuffed → be at/come to an extreme; end; dead end. For the meanings investigation and follow through, compare 究, 奥, and 探.
熊 (14) ユウ；くま
As per 能 (Type 5 Phonetic) (tenacious) + 火 fire → tend to a campfire and keep it burning. Bear is a borrowed meaning, connected to an ancient belief associating ursines with the spirit of fire.
躬 (10) キュウ
身 body + 弓 (Type 4 Phonetic) bow → body bent over, suggesting the shape of a bow → self; (by) oneself.
穹 (8) キュウ；そら
As per 空 (Type 4 Phonetic) (empty space between two ends of a connecting pipe/tube) + 弓 bow → tent (stretched taut and wide like a bow); arch → sky; the wide heavens (← arch of the heavens). Also, arch-shaped object.
LAK Continuum + Straight
In this word family, as in the related LAG family, the idea of a continuum is expressed in the forms of dewdrops continuously dripping from a plant (落), paths set out through paddies and fields (略), the weaving of straight threads (絡), walking with a neat gait (歴) and rippling arm muscles (力).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A horse with a long, straight mane (駱)
The outline of the ribs on the chest (肋)
Fluid motion (掠)
Trickling liquid (瀝)
Neatly aligned pieces of wood (櫪)
Patterned grain of wood (朸)
A graveled road laid out for vehicular traffic (轣)
A string of thunderclaps, or of thunderbolts (靂)
Extensions of meaning or abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining characters in this group.
落 (12) ラク；お（ち・ちる・とし・とす）
As per 洛 (Type 1 Phonetic) (continue straight) + 艸 grass/plant → dewdrops continuously dripping from a plant → drop; fall → omit; settle down. Other extended meanings from "drop" or "fall" include collapse; come off/out; die down; decline; fail (a test etc.); be inferior; remove; trap; and trick. Mistake is via "omit," while punch line (of a joke) is by extension from "trick."
略 (11) リャク Alternate Form 畧
各 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of 洛 (continue straight) + 田 field/paddy → lay paths through fields and paddies → manage → abbreviate (← make shortcuts) → consider; outline; broadly; tactics (← tactically effective shortcuts). Plunder is a borrowing.
絡 (12) ラク；から（まる・む）
各 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of 洛 (continue straight) + 糸 thread → weave straight threads → connection; entanglement → coil; hook; line; rope.
暦 (14) レキ；こよみ Formerly 
厤 (Type 1 Phonetic) is 厂 (here a shape indicator suggesting a roof) + 禾 grain/rice doubled → harvested grain neatly lined up in a granary → manage. 暦 adds 日 sun/day → clear lineup or arrangement of days → calendar → destiny; fate; lifespan; era; period.
歴 (14) レキ Formerly 
As per 厤 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 暦 (neat continuum) + 止 (leg/foot) → walk with a neat gait → passage; continuation; one's career.
力 (2) リョク；リキ；ちから S/B 
S/B is a pictograph of rippling arm muscles → power; energy → strength; skill; ability; labor; make efforts.
洛 (9) ラク
水 water + 各 (Type 1 Phonetic) (leg in motion that comes to a stop) → tributary that continues straight into a river, where it ends. 洛水 is the name of a tributary of the Yellow River → Kyoto/the capital (← association with the one-time Chinese capital of 洛陽).
駱 (16) ラク
各 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of 洛 (Type 1 Phonetic) (continue straight) + 馬 horse → white horse with a long, straight black mane.
肋 (6) ロク；あばら
As per 力 (Type 1 Phonetic) (rippling arm muscles straining in exertion) + 肉 flesh → the ribs (the outlines of which adhere to the chest).
掠 (11) リャク；リョウ；かす（める・る・れる）
An abbreviated form of 涼 (Type 8 Phonetic) (cool, clean water flowing continuously on high ground → continuous motion) + 手 hand/action indicator → snatch/steal (with a fluid motion) → graze (← graze against in snatching) → blurry; husky (voice) (← indistinct sensations ← graze).
瀝 (19) レキ；したた（る）
As per the previous form (Type 1 Phonetic) of 歴 (walk with a neat gait → neat line) + 水 water → trickle of liquid → drip; a drop.
櫪 (20) レキ；くぬぎ
As per the previous form (Type 1 Phonetic) of 歴 (walk with a neat gait → neat line) + 木 tree/wood → stable/manger constructed of neatly aligned pieces of wood → trough for feeding livestock. (Certain variety of) oak is a borrowed meaning.
靂 (24) レキ
As per the previous form (Type 1 Phonetic) of 歴 (walk with a neat gait → neat line) + 雨 rain/natural phenomena → string of thunderclaps or thunderbolts → thunder.
仂 (4) ロク
力 (Type 1 Phonetic) power/energy + 人 person → person expending energy (compare 労) → (numerical) remainder (← remaining unit ← remaining energy). In Japan, 仂 sometimes serves as an abbreviated form of 働 work.
朸 (6) ロク；リキ；リョク；おおご；おうご
As per 力 (Type 1 Phonetic) (rippling arm muscles straining in exertion) + 木 tree/wood → grain (of wood) (← ripple pattern). In Japan, 朸 has also been reinterpreted to mean a carrying pole.
勒 (11) ロク
As per 力 (Type 1 Phonetic) (rippling arm muscles straining in exertion) + 革 leather → (equestrian) halter (designed to restrain a powerful horse) → restrain; suppress; control; regulate.
轣 (23) レキ
As per the previous form (Type 1 Phonetic) of 歴 (walk with a neat gait → neat line) + 車 vehicle → gravel road laid out for vehicular traffic. Also, the crunching sound produced by wheels of a vehicle in rolling over gravel.
雒 (14) ラク
各 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of 洛 (continue straight) + 隹 short, squat bird → horned owl (← squat bird with protruding ears). Compare 舊 the previous form of 旧.
犖 (14) ラク
An abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 勞 the previous form of 労 (expend energy) + 牛 cow → hard-working cow/ox (i.e. beast of burden) → speckled/brindled cow (← particular type of such a bovine). Conspicuous and clear properly appertain to the compound 犖犖 (← clear demarcations between background and foreground in a speckled/brindled pattern).
LAM Continuum + Encompass/Conceal
林 indicates an encompassing forest.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
Be encompassed with craving for a woman (婪)
Soaking or drenched objects (淋, 醂)
An affliction accompanied by discharges of pus or other liquids (痳)
The tinkling of a jeweled necklace (琳)
Long rows of harvested crops within a storehouse (稟, 廩)
A row of icicles (凜)
林 (8) リン；はやし
木 tree/wood doubled → large number of trees growing alongside each other, which encompass villages (compare 村), sacred ground (compare 禁) and other spaces → forest; woods. 林 suggests a more orderly growth of trees than 森.
婪 (11) ラン
As per 林 (Type 1 Phonetic) (trees encompassing a village → encompass) + 女 woman → be encompassed with craving for a woman → covetous; ravenous.
淋 (11) リン；さび（しい）
As per 林 (Type 1 Phonetic) (trees encompassing a village → encompass) + 水 water → be drenched → drip (← drenched object that drips) → desolation (← desolate feeling created by the sound of dripping water) → lonely. Compare 漓.
琳 (12) リン
As per 林 (Type 1 Phonetic) (trees encompassing a village → encompass) + 玉 jewel → jeweled necklace strung about the neck → jewel; tinkling of a string of jewels (compare 玲 and 瓏).
醂 (15) ラン；リン
As per 林 (Type 1 Phonetic) (trees encompassing a village → encompass) + 酉 alcohol container → bleach an object in liquid (and remove astringency).
霖 (16) リン
As per 林 (Type 1 Phonetic) (trees encompassing a village → encompass) + 雨 rain/natural phenomena → be encompassed by rain → long spell of rain.
稟 (13) リン；ヒン Alternate Form 禀
Abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 亶 (the flat and firm foundation of a storehouse) + 禾 grain/rice → granary in which rows of harvested crops are stored → conferral; grant; salary. Also, receive a request for (and offer one's opinion) (to a superior) (← have a request conferred on one by one's superior, considered an honor).
凜 (15) リン Alternate Form 凛
As per 稟 (Type 1 Phonetic) (granary in which rows of harvested crops are stored) + 氷 ice → a row of icicles → freezing → severe (← severe weather conditions). Also, manly (← severe personality ← severe weather).
廩 (16) リン
As per 稟 (Type 1 Phonetic) (granary in which rows of harvested crops are stored) + 广 building → granary. 廩 was devised to replace 稟 after the latter's transformation of meanings.
痳 (13) リン
林 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of 淋 drip + 疒 illness → gonorrhea (← affliction often accompanied by discharge of pus or other liquid matter).
懍 (16) リン；おそ（れる）
As per 稟 (Type 1 Phonetic) (granary in which rows of harvested crops are stored) + 心 heart/emotions → be struck by waves of fear → awe. Also, be anxious for another.
惏 (11) ラン；リン；むさぼ（る）
As per 林 (Type 1 Phonetic) (trees encompassing a village → encompass) + 心 heart/emotions → heart encompassed with insatiable greed. Also, cold-hearted (← greedy and indifferent to others).
LAP Continuum + Press
The two Everyday Use Characters in this group manifest the combination of semantic indicators in the form of a person exerting continuous pressure on the ground in standing upon it (立) and the downward press of heavy, ripe ears of rice (粒).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the exertion of continuous downward pressure in drawing/pulling/dragging (拉), in a hat pressed down upon the head (笠), in stepping on another's foot (躐), in animals packed in a pen (苙) and in a heavy mass of hair (鬣).
立 (5) リツ；リュウ；た（つ・てる） S/B 
S/B combines a standing person + a line representing the ground → (heavy) person exerting continuous pressure upon the ground → stand → arise; raise; erect.
粒 (11) リュウ；つぶ
As per 立 (Type 1 Phonetic) (exert continuous downward pressure) + 米 rice → full, ripe ears of rice on the plant → (a) grain → (a) drop; droplet (← small object resembling a grain).
拉 (8) ラツ；ひし（ぐ）
As per 立 (Type 1 Phonetic) (exert continuous downward pressure) + 手 hand/action indicator → draw; pull; drag → carry off (← drag off ← drag). Also, crush (← press down on and crush).
笠 (11) リュウ；かさ
As per 立 (Type 1 Phonetic) (exert continuous downward pressure) + 竹 bamboo → bamboo hat.
躐 (22) リョウ；こ（える）；ふ（む）
As per 巤 (Type 3 Phonetic) as described in 猟 (capture and bind/arrange) + 足 leg/foot → step on the foot of a person walking ahead of one (← hamper movement ← bind). Also, exceed (← stride too far forward).
苙 (8) リュウ；キュウ
As per 立 (Type 1 Phonetic) (exert continuous downward pressure) + 艸 grass/plant → pen (for pigs or other domesticated animals) made of woven plant matter. Also, by way of interpreting the character as 艸 + 立 stand, the herb Angelica dahurica, which stands as high as three meters.
鬣 (25) リョウ；たてがみ
As per 巤 (Type 3 Phonetic) as described in 猟 (capture and bind/arrange) + 髟 hair → neatly arranged hair; mane.
LOK Continuum + Curvature + Straight
Terms in this word family, as well as the related LOG family, suggest that with respect to a continuum there is an element of curvature.The two Everyday Use Characters in this group express the semantic combination of indicators quite similarly, with earth stretched vertically (六) or horizontally (陸).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
The beheading of enemies whose heads are bowed (戮)
Extensions of meaning or abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining characters in this group.
六 (4) ロク；む；むい；む（つ） S/B  BIS  SIS 
S/B, BIS and SIS are pictographs of a tall mound → six (← stretch beyond five ← natural end of a counting unit, the five fingers of one hand).
陸 (11) リク
坴 is 土 earth doubled + 八 divide right and left → stretched-out pile of earth. 陸 is 坴 (Type 1 Phonetic) + 阜 piled earth → land winding far, wide and high → plateau; winding; jump up.
戮 (15) リク
As per 翏 (Type 3 Phonetic) (separate) + 戈 spear/halberd → behead enemies with their heads bowed (compare 劉) → kill.
勠 (13) リク；あ（わせる）
As per 翏 (Type 3 Phonetic) (separate) + 力 power/energy → combine/unite forces (once separate).
僇 (13) リク；はじ
As per 翏 (Type 3 Phonetic) (separate) + 人 person → humiliate. Kill is a borrowed meaning via 戮.
LONG Continuum + Curvature + Extension
Terms in this word family suggest that with respect to a continuum there are elements both of curvature and of extension.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
窿 (17) リュウ
As per 隆 (Type 2 Phonetic) (wind upward) + 穴 hole → shaft winding upward from the floor of a cavern/mine → arch; dome.
LUK Continuum + Circle/Mass + Straight
As with the LUG word family, terms in this group suggest that with respect to a continuum there is an element of circularity and/or of massing.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A long, winding herd of deer (鹿)
A long trail of dripping liquid (漉)
The long, winding foot of a mountain/foothill (麓)
A pulley or roller around which objects are wound (轆)
鹿 (11) ロク；しか S/B 
S/B is a pictograph of a deer, an animal that forms a long, winding herd.
漉 (14) ロク；こ（す）；す（く）
As per 鹿 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long and winding) + 水 water → a long trail of dripping liquid → filter; strain (compare 濾). Also, make (Japanese) paper (a process that involves filtering considerable amounts of water).
麓 (19) ロク；ふもと
As per 鹿 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long and winding) + 林 forest → long, winding and forested foot of a mountain or foothill.
轆 (18) ロク
As per 鹿 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long and winding) + 車 vehicle → pulley; roller.
LUNG Continuum + Circle/Mass + Extension
Terms in this word family suggest that with respect to an extensive continuum there is an element of circularity and/or of massing. 竜 is a large, coiling serpent. 滝 originally referred to winding rapids, and now to a waterfall.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
Roll a jewel back and forth in the hands (弄)
Wrapping the hands around an object (攏)
A winding ridge (壟)
A winding hill/mound (隴)
Undulating grass (蘢)
A round basket woven of bamboo strips (籠)
A circular cage (槞)
The throat (嚨)
A roller used in grinding in a mortar (礱)
An elongated, deformed ear (聾)
Extensions of meaning or abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining characters in this group.
竜 (10) リュウ；リョウ；たつ Formerly 龍 S/B  SIS 
S/B is a pictograph of a large, coiling serpent → dragon. SIS adds an element suggesting the idea of rising upward, while the original S/B form (Type 1 Phonetic) , at the left, supplies the sound. 竜 is a shape that came into use following the collapse of the Han Dynasty, when the lack of a strong, unifying central government permitted an explosion of alternate forms of the 漢 字. In Japan, 竜 supplanted 龍 as the preferred form of the character on the official use list issued in 1954.
滝 (13) たき Formerly 瀧
As per 竜/龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch with a winding motion) + 水 water → waterfall; rapids.
弄 (7) ロウ；いじ（る）；もてあそ（ぶ）
廾 (Type 3 Phonetic) pair of hands + 玉 jewel → play with a jewel by tossing it back and forth from one hand to the other → fiddle with; toy/trifle with → tease; mock; ridicule.
壟 (19) ロウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 土 earth → winding ridge → mound; hill → grave (← burial mound).
瓏 (20) ロウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 玉 jewel → the clean/clear tinkling sound made by a long chain of jewels (compare 玲 and 琳). 瓏 has also been understood literally as a jewel cut into the form of a dragon.
籠 (22) ロウ；かご；こ（める）；こも（る） Alternate Form 篭
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 竹 bamboo → basket woven of curving bamboo strips → contain; include; encompass. Also, unite, shut oneself up and cage.
槞 (14) ロウ；おり
As per 竜 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch with a winding motion) + 木 tree/wood → (circular) wooden cage (compare 籠). An alternate form of this character has 龍 in place of 竜.
嚨 (19) ロウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 口 mouth → (the curving) throat.
攏 (19) ロウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 手 hand/action indicator → wrap the hand(s) around an object → bring together; possess.
隴 (19) ロウ；リョウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 阜 piled earth → winding hill or mound.
礱 (21) ロウ；す（る）
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 石 stone → use a roller in grinding grain in a mortar → grind; mill.
朧 (20) ロウ；おぼろ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 月 moon → strain (figuratively "stretch") the eyes to follow the course of the faintly visible moon (compare 覇) → hazy; dimly visible.
聾 (22) ロウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 耳 elongated, deformed ear → deafness; deaf person.
蘢 (19) ロウ
As per 龍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 竜 (stretch with a winding motion) + 艸 grass/plant → tall grass (← tall and undulating, like a dragon). Also, long/tall and undulating smartweed; compare 蓼.
LUAG Continuum + (Curving/Round) + Straight
This word family adds the nuance of curvature or roundness to the LAG family theme of Continuum + Straight.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
A tri-pronged plow (耒)
耒 (6) ライ；ルイ SIS 
SIS is a pictograph of a tri-pronged plow.
LUAR Continuum + (Curving/Round) + Continuum
Terms in this word family add the nuance of curvature or roundness to the LAR family theme of Continuum + Continuum. We find the curves displayed by a naked woman (裸), a bird and beast tangling in a protracted fight (離) and, similarly, elements colliding in a thundercloud (雷), a neat ball of thread (累) and a long, curving rampart (塁).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A curvy/lumpy body (倮, 騾, 臝)
Stones tumbling in sequence to the ground (磊, 礧)
Aligned movement (邐)
Objects piled into a human shape (儡)
Vines piled atop each other (藟)
Wood wrapped around the feet as snowshoes (樏)
An object bound by being wrapped about with a rope/cord (縲)
A spiral shell (螺)
An unopened bud (蕾)
A large, curved liquor jar (罍)
Extensions of meaning or abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining characters in this group.
裸 (13) ラ；はだか
As per 果 (Type 3 Phonetic) (round) + 衣 clothing → woman disrobing, revealing the curves all over her naked/nude body → bare; open.
離 (19) リ；はな（す・れる）
离 odd beast + 隹 (Type 3 Phonetic) short, squat bird → beast and bird tangling in a protracted fight, then separating to recover their strength (preparatory to resumption of the battle) → separation → part (from); come apart; release; set at intervals; leave; drift away; quit.
累 (11) ルイ SIS 
SIS is 畾 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 畳 (accumulation/piling up of objects) + 糸 thread → neat ball of thread → link; successive; involvement (in trouble).
塁 (12) ルイ Formerly 壘
畾 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 畳 (accumulation/piling up of objects) + 土 earth → long/high and curving rampart (orderly arrangement of earth and stones) → (baseball) base.
雷 (13) ライ；かみなり
Once 畾 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 畳 (accumulation/piling up of objects) + 雨 rain/natural phenomena → accumulation of positive and negative forces in collision among rainclouds → thunder; lightning (← phenomena produced by such a conflict).
倮 (10) ラ
As per 果 (Type 3 Phonetic) (round) + 人 person → a person's curvy/lumpy naked body → bare. Compare 裸.
磊 (15) ライ
石 stone (tripled) → many stones tumbling in sequence to the ground → open-hearted (← openness ← space created when the stones of a building tumble).
儡 (17) ライ
畾 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 畳 (accumulation/piling up of objects) + 人 person → pile objects into a lumpy human shape → dummy → puppet. Compare 傀. Defeat, weaken and come down in the world are borrowed meanings.
樏 (15) ルイ；ラ；かんじき
As per 累 (Type 1 Phonetic) (neat ball) + 木 tree/wood → wood shaped to curve about the feet for use as snowshoes. かんじき refers, however, to the crampons used with snowshoes.
螺 (17) ラ；にし；にな
As per 累 (Type 1 Phonetic) (neat ball) + 虫 insect/creature → spiral shell(fish) (← orderly pattern) → conch shell.
騾 (21) ラ
As per 累 (Type 1 Phonetic) (neat ball → lump) + 馬 horse → mule (← compact, horse-like animal). For a compact/lumpy body shape, compare 倮.
擂 (16) ライ；す（る）
As per 雷 (Type 1 Phonetic) (accumulation of positive and negative forces in collision) + 手 hand/action indicator → rub, grind, beat or strike with a repeated action.
蕾 (16) ライ；つぼみ
As per 雷 (Type 1 Phonetic) (accumulation of positive and negative forces in collision) + 艸 grass/plant → (as yet unopened) bud (concealing multi-layered petals).
羸 (20) ルイ；つか（れる）
羊 sheep + an abbreviated form of 贏 surplus → surplus sheep (i.e., more than can be properly grazed) → emaciated; lean → fatigued; exhausted; weak.
罍 (21) ライ；さかだる Alternate Form 櫑
畾 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of the earliest form of 雷 thunder/lightning + 缶 bulging earthenware jug/vase → large liquor jar (originally, one decorated with a thundercloud motif).
誄 (13) ルイ
耒 (Type 2 Phonetic) plow + 言 words → written eulogy of the deceased (compare 謚).
臝 (21) ラ；はだか
果 (Type 8 Phonetic) here an abbreviated form of 裸 naked + an abbreviated form of 贏 surplus → reveal a surplus of skin in being/becoming naked.
礧 (20) ライ
畾 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 畳 (accumulation/piling up of objects) + 石 stone → many stones tumbling to the ground in sequence (compare 磊) → roll; pile of stones.
醨 (18) リ
离 here an abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 離 separate + 酉 alcohol container → wine lees (that separate from the wine itself). In Japan, the character has also been understood to refer to diluted wine, as well as to the clear liquid that separates at the top of soup.
邐 (23) リ
As per 麗 (Type 5 Phonetic) (deer with neatly aligned pair of antlers → align) + 辵 movement → move in alignment.
藟 (18) ルイ
畾 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 畳 (accumulation/piling up of objects) + 艸 grass/plant → vine; creeper (← vines/creepers piled upon themselves; compare 葎).
鸝 (30) リ
麗 (Type 5 Phonetic) beautiful + 鳥 bird → bird with a beautiful song. The compound 黄鸝 refers to a Chinese oriole.
縲 (17) ルイ；ラ
As per 累 (Type 1 Phonetic) (neat ball) + 糸 thread → wrap about with a rope or cord and tie/bind. The compound 縲絏 (絏: alternate form of 紲) refers to a long rope for binding criminals, and, by extension, to a jail/prison.
LUAT Continuum + (Curving/Round) + Cut/Divide/Reduce
Characters in this word family add the nuance of curvature or roundness to the LAT family theme of Continuum + Cut/Divide/Reduce. We find a reduction of energy causing a person to bend in fatigue (劣), standards that restrict human conduct (律), the restraining of tears (涙), the neat alignment of protruding objects (率), and the creation of small piles of related objects (類).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
Twisting vines and creepers (葎)
A circular enclosure (埒)
Curling the fingertips in plucking (捋)
劣 (6) レツ；おと（る）
少 small/slight + 力 power/energy → lack of energy, causing one to bend in fatigue (compare 労 and 留) → inferiority; weak.
律 (9) リツ
聿 (Type 3 Phonetic) hand holding a writing brush upright + 彳 movement (→ action indicator) → create written standards for restricting human conduct → law; rule; regulate.
涙 (10) ルイ；なみだ Formerly  Alternate Form 泪
水 water + 戻 (Type 5 Phonetic) (confined dog → restrain) → hold back one's tears.
率 (11) ソツ；リツ；ひき（いる） BIS  SIS 
幺 or 玄, in either case a slender thread + 十 (gather) + a protruding object, brought into alignment with swift right and left motions → bring together in a straight, neat central line → proportion; ratio (the リツ term). The meanings command and lead are from the once-separate ソツ term, which suggested the idea of gathering in a neat line and tightening into an orderly unit.
類 (18) ルイ Formerly 
頁 head (→ counter for heads → people; compare 員, 預 and 順) + 米 rice (→ plants in general) + 犬 dog/beast (→ animals in general) → sort a variety of things according to type, creating smaller piles → variety; kind → broadly.
葎 (12) リツ；むぐら
As per 律 (Type 1 Phonetic) (order human behavior in making written standards → orderly arrangement) + 艸 grass/plant → plant that exhibits an orderly pattern of growth along a vertical or horizontal surface → (general term for) twisting vines, creepers and trailing plants. Compare 蔓.
埒 (10) ラチ；ラツ；レツ Alternate Form 埓
寽 is 爪 claw/hand + 寸 hand → pluck an object with one hand and place the other hand beneath to support it → a handful or pinch of something. 埒 is as per 寽 (Type 1 Phonetic) (frame between the hands) + 土 earth → earthen wall serving as an enclosure. Also, framework and restriction (← delimit human behavior ← enclosure; compare 法 and 律).
捋 (10) ラチ；ラツ
As per 寽 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 埒 (pluck) + 手 hand → pluck → wrench; pick. 捋 was devised to replace 寽.
MAR Concealment + Continuum
Terms in this word family manifest the combination of semantic indicators in the form of a rice plant with nearly countless numbers of tiny, dimly visible grains (米) and in an extended sense of going far off course on account of poor visibility (迷).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
The end of a long bow, where the string disappears into the nock (弥, 弭)
Abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining character in this group, 謎.
米 (6) マイ；ベイ；こめ BIS 
BIS is a pictograph of a plant with nearly countless numbers of tiny, dimly visible grains → crop grain → rice. America is via the phonetic construction 亜米利加.
迷 (9) メイ；まよ（う・わす）
As per 米 (Type 1 Phonetic) (dimly visible) + 辵 movement → go astray; be lost (← go far off course on account of poor visibility) → confound; be perplexed/at a loss; doubt; uncertainty; illusion; delusion; tempt; captivate.
弥 (8) ビ Formerly 彌
As per 爾 (Type 3 Phonetic) (adhere) + 弓 bow → nock (← end of a bow, where the string is fixed firmly in place) → stop; desist; quit (← come to an end ← end).
弭 (9) ビ；ミ
弓 bow + 耳 (Type 1 Phonetic) (supple ear that clings to the side of the head) → nock (← end of a bow, where the string is fixed firmly in place). 弭 was originally a variant of 弥 (originally 彌), but came to be differentiated in taking on the extended senses of distance, long time, spread, and prevail (← reach all the way to the end). Also, increasingly and more and more (← spread). Note that for 弭, some dictionaries apply the meanings listed to 弥/彌 and vice-versa.
謎 (16) メイ；なぞ
迷 (Type 1 Phonetic) be lost + 言 words → riddle; puzzle → enigma.
MAT Concealment + Cut/Divide/Reduce
滅 involves the reduction of the heat and energy of a fire by dousing it with water.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
Loss of vision (蔑)
Smear in blood, thus concealing from sight (衊)
The remaining character in this group, 袂, exhibits an extended sense of this word family.
滅 (13) メツ；ほろ（びる・ぼす）
烕 is 戊 battle-ax + a horizontal line suggesting "exert force from top to bottom" + 火 fire → extinguish a fire by chopping and smothering the burning wood. 滅 is 烕 (Type 1 Phonetic) + 水 water → extinguish a fire by dousing it with water → destroy; annihilate; ruin; collapse; perish; die out.
袂 (9) ベイ；たもと
As per 夬 (Type 5 Phonetic) (scoop out) + 衣 clothing → sleeve → by; near (← sleeves attached to the main portion of a garment).
蔑 (14) ベツ；さげす（む）；ないがし（ろ） S/B 
S/B combines an eye afflicted with inward-growing eyelashes (trichiases), a person and a pike → person suffering a painful eye condition (as though being stabbed in the eye) → scorn; disdain; contempt (← refusal to recognize ← inability to see). Also, slight (adj.) (← so few/little as to be barely recognizable).
衊 (21) ベツ；けが（す）；はなぢ
As per 蔑 (Type 1 Phonetic) (unseeing eye → unseen) + 血 blood → smear in blood (and thus obscure from sight) → (blood from a) bloody nose. Also, put to shame (← bloody another).
MOK Concealment + Curvature + Straight
目 shows an eye covered by a curving eyelid.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
Barely distinguishable, thin ears of rice (穆)
A dimly visible, distant point (邈)
目 (5) モク；ま；め S/B  BIS  SIS 
S/B, BIS and SIS are pictographs of an eye covered by a curving eyelid → look; mark → point; classification; ordinal ending.
穆 (16) ボク；モク
The right-hand element (Type 1 Phonetic) combines 彡 pattern + an abbreviated form of the right-hand element of 隙 (chink through which light shines) → too fine to see clearly. 穆 adds 禾 grain/rice → be as indistinct as thin ears of rice → quiet; calm (such as at dusk, when the land is indistinct) → gentle; reverent; respectful (← behavior of a quiet/calm individual).
邈 (18) バク；マク；はる（か）
As per 貌 (Type 1 Phonetic) (dim outline) + 辵 movement → move far to a dimly visible, distant point. Also, be contemptuous of (← unworthy of one's full attention ← dim outline; compare 侮).
MONG Concealment + Curvature + Extension
Terms in this word family suggest curvature with respect to a concealed or concealing object that is extensive in scale. Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A cover thrust over a downed pig/boar (冡)
Widespread, covering vegetation (蒙)
A concealing drizzle or misty rain (濛)
Darkened skies (曚, 朦)
Complete blindness (矇)
A serving dish completely covered with food (饛)
冡 (10) モウ；ボウ
冃 (Type 2 Phonetic) as described in 冒 (covered parallel lines → a cover) + 豕 pig/boar → thrust a cover on a downed pig/boar (compare 冢), concealing it → cover.
蒙 (13) モウ；ボウ；こうむ（る）
As per 冡 (Type 1 Phonetic) (cover/conceal) + 艸 grass/plant → covering vegetation → ignorance; stupidity (← dim intelligence ← dim perception on account of covering vegetation). Receive, suffer and be subject to are borrowed meanings, while Mongolia is via the phonetic construction 蒙古.
濛 (16) モウ；ボウ
As per 蒙 (Type 1 Phonetic) (cover/conceal) + 水 water → concealing drizzle; misty rain (compare 溟) → dim; vague.
曚 (17) モウ；ボウ
As per 蒙 (Type 1 Phonetic) (cover/conceal) + 日 sun/day → darkness (prior to daybreak).
朦 (17) モウ；ボウ；おぼろ
As per 蒙 (Type 1 Phonetic) (cover/conceal) + 月 moon → dimly visible moon → dim; hazy; obscure.
矇 (18) モウ；ボウ
As per 蒙 (Type 1 Phonetic) (cover/conceal) + 目 eye → blind; blind person → ignorant.
饛 (23) モウ；ボウ
As per 蒙 (Type 1 Phonetic) (cover/conceal) + 食 food/eating → serving dish covered with a heap of food → cover with food.
MUK Concealment + Circle/Mass + Straight
木 suggests the shelter provided by the massed branches of a tree.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
Immersion in water (沐)
木 (4) ボク；モク；き；こ S/B 
S/B is a pictograph of a large tree, the massed branches of which provide shelter → wood.
沐 (7) モク
木 (Type 1 Phonetic) tree/wood (→ tree cover for plants) + 水 water → cover oneself with water → wash (one's hair/body); bathe.
MUNG Concealment + Circle/Mass + Extension
Terms in this word family suggest that with respect to an extensive, concealing object there is an element of circularity and/or of massing. Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A shaggy dog (尨)
A large and thick, concealing object (厖)
尨 (7) ボウ；むくいぬ
彡 pattern (→ multicolored) + 犬 dog/beast → shaggy dog (of various colors) → large; variegated.
厖 (9) ボウ
As per 尨 (Type 1 Phonetic) (large) + 厂 cliff/shape indicator → large and thick, concealing object. Be in a jumble is a borrowed meaning.
MUAK Concealment + (Curving/Round) + Straight
Terms in this word family add the nuance of curvature or roundness to the MAK family theme of Concealment + Straight. 墨 involves clods of soot, and the Non=Everyday Use Character 袙 refers to a headband worn by a warrior.
墨 (14) ボク；すみ Formerly 
As per 黑/黒 (Type 4 Phonetic) (black) soot + 土 earth → clods of soot → ink block; India ink. For soot, compare 煤.
袙 (10) ハ；あこめ
白 (Type 5 Phonetic) white + 衣 clothing → (white,) warrior's headband. あこめ refers to one of two separate types of ancient Japanese garment, one worn by males, the other by females. The term あこめ itself is a borrowing via 衵.
MUANG Concealment + (Curving/Round) + Extension
Terms in this word family add the nuance of curvature or roundness to the MANG family theme of Concealment + Extension. In 夢, curvature has to do with the crescent moon suggesting a dark night.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A practically inaccessible region of the body (肓)
A monster based on 鬼 (a large, round-headed ghost) (魍)
Cloudy vision (瞢)
Abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining character in this group, 儚.
妄 (6) モウ
As per 亡 (Type 4 Phonetic) non-existence (→ dark; shadowy) + 女 woman → be thoroughly captivated by a woman for no apparent reason (compare 魅) → lack foundation; incoherent; false.
忘 (7) ボウ；わす（れる）
亡 (Type 4 Phonetic) non-existence + 心 heart/emotions → forget; leave behind (← something that has passed completely out of one's heart/mind ← be in a state in which the mind does not function well). 忘 and 忙 are an example of a pair of characters devised from the same elements but expressing different meanings; for another example, see 含 and 吟.
慌 (12) コウ；あわ（ただしい・てる）
荒 (Type 5 Phonetic) waste/void + 心 heart/emotions → state of mind completely void of reason → be confused/flustered; be agitated; panic → busy; hurried; rushed; bustling.
網 (14) モウ；あみ
罔 (Type 4 Phonetic) net + 糸 thread (for clarification) → net.
夢 (13) ム；ゆめ Alternate Form 梦
Abbreviated form of 蔑 (person suffering a painful eye condition that obscures sight) + 冖 cover and 夕 crescent moon (suggesting a particularly dark night; compare 名) → be covered in darkness where nothing can be seen → dark → protracted dream (← fall into sleep and be no longer able to see the things of this world).
儚 (16) ボウ
夢 (Type 1 Phonetic) dream + 人 person → dreamer → evanescent; fleeting; ephemeral (← insubstantial and fleeting as a dream) → empty; vain.
肓 (7) コウ
As per 亡 (Type 4 Phonetic) (non-existence → nearly entirely invisible) + 肉 flesh → (practically) inaccessible region of the body (between the heart and the diaphragm).
魍 (18) モウ；ボウ
罔 (Type 4 Phonetic) net + 鬼 large, round-headed ghost; demon → invisible monster (that entices). The compound 魑魅魍魎 is a general term for evil spirits resident in forests, mountains and rivers.
瞢 (16) ボウ；ム；モウ
Abbreviated form of 蔑 (person suffering a painful eye condition that obscures sight) + 目 eye (for clarification of meaning) → cloudy vision; dim-sighted.
懜 (17) ボウ；くら（い）
夢 (Type 1 Phonetic) dream (→ obscure state of being) + 心 heart/emotions → absentminded; vacant; be at a loss.
NAK Flexible + Straight
In this word family, flexibility takes the form of a young woman combing her hair (若), along with one concrete (匿) and one abstract (諾) term each deriving from 若.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following example:
A person weakened by illness (疒)
Abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining character in this group, 惹.
若 (8) ジャク；ニャク；も（しくは）；わか（い） S/B  SIS 
S/B is a pictograph of a woman combing her hair. SIS transforms the hair element into 艸 grass/plant and adds 口 (an object) below, probably under the influence of the SIS form of 右 → youth (← suppleness of youth) → immature. The minor meanings of either/or, some (xxx) while others (xxx) , and if are borrowed meanings.
匿 (10) トク
As per 若 (Type 1 Phonetic) (supple youth → supple) + 匸 contain/conceal → supple mulberry leaves kept in a container → hide; conceal.
諾 (15) ダク
As per 若 (Type 1 Phonetic) (supple youth → supple) + 言 words → verbal consent.
疒 (5) ダク S/B 
S/B combines 人 person + 片 long, wooden sleeping pallet → weakened person l | |
