猿 Monkey

Radical Combination

• 犭

  Animal
• 土

  Dirt
• 口

  Mouth
• Kick

Meaning

Primary

Monkey

Mnemonic

An animal that kicks dirt into people's mouths is a monkey. Monkeys are naughty little things. You should be happy it was just dirt it kicked into your mouth, and not something worse.

Hints

Imagine looking at a monkey at the zoo. Aww, it's so cute. But then it turns around and kicks some dirt right into your aww-ing mouth. Yuck! Why monkey, why?!

Readings

On’yomi

えん

Kun’yomi

さる

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

You spit the dirt out of your mouth and look back at the monkey to see that it's saluting (さる) you. Is... is it mocking you?

Hints

Picture the monkey saluting you as you spit dirt out of your mouth. Taste the bitter dirt and the bitter shame. You were played by a monkey.