喪 Mourning

Radical Combination

• 十

  Cross
• 口

  Mouth
• 衣

  Clothes

Meaning

Primary

Mourning

Mnemonic

Under the cross is a mouth and another mouth wearing special clothes because they're in mourning.

Hints

Picture the cross looming overhead, people's mouths open so they can sob loudly, and everyone wearing the same color clothes (just picture whatever color works for your particular culture/religion combo).

Readings

On’yomi

そう

Kun’yomi

も

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

As the mourning continues, the soul (そう) of the dead person rises out of the cross. The soul looks around at all of the mourners and nods. Yes, your mourning has pleased it.

Hints

If you aren't mourning enough, when the soul comes out of the person's body, it will get really mad. "What, I'm not worth a few tears? Really?" And then the soul will haunt you. So you better mourn like you mean it.