剝
Mnemonic
A pig roasting on a spit sizzles as a splash of water hisses against its hide. You slide a knife underneath and peel away the golden, crackling skin in one long, satisfying sheet.
Additional thoughts
Picture the steam rising when water hits the hot pig skin, then the knife gliding just beneath the surface as the crispy layer curls off in a single piece — deeply satisfying tactile imagery.Quick recall
A pig hit by a splash of water is skinned with a knife to peel off crackling.Details
The keyword for 剝 is peel. This kanji refers to the act of stripping away or removing an outer layer or covering from something, much like peeling the skin off fruit or bark off a tree. It conveys the idea of something being forcibly separated or torn away from a surface, and can also extend to meanings of deprivation or exfoliation. In broader usage, it captures any process where a coating, layer, or veneer comes off or is stripped away.
- On'yomi
- はく、ほく
- Kun'yomi
- へ.ぐ、へず.る、む.く、む.ける、は.がれる、は.ぐ、は.げる、は.がす