掌
Mnemonic
An adventurer reaches into a cursed temple and places her hand on a glowing orb. Instantly she can manipulate every stone wall, every trap, every door — all controlled through her palm. The adventurer grins: total control feels natural when your hand holds the world.
Additional thoughts
Visualize the adventurer's open palm pressed against the orb — the palm is the hand that controls everything. In the kanji, the adventurer component sits on top of the hand radical below, like a hand reaching up to seize power.Quick recall
The adventurer presses her hand on an orb to manipulate the entire temple.Details
The keyword for 掌 is manipulate. This kanji refers to the palm of the hand, and by extension, it conveys the idea of holding something in one's palm and having control over it. To manipulate something is to handle it skillfully, directing or managing it as though it rests entirely in the grasp of one's hand. The character thus bridges the physical concept of the open palm with the abstract notion of exercising control or authority over something.
- On'yomi
- しょう
- Kun'yomi
- てのひら、たなごころ