欠

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lack

On-Yomi: ケツ、ケン — Kun-Yomi: か.ける、か.く、あくび

Elements:

lack, yawn

Heisig story:

The pictograph hidden in this character is of someone yawning. The first stroke shows the head thrown back; the second, the arm bent at the elbow as the hand reaches up to cover the mouth; and the last two, the legs. Since yawning shows a lack of something (psychologically, interest; physiologically, sleep), the connection is plain to see.

Heisig comment:

* As a primitive, it can mean either yawn or lack.

Koohii stories:

1) [ihatobu] 13-8-2007(138): To me, this kanji looks like a person with two arms and two legs, but who lacks a head.

2) [bendyarm] 5-10-2007(56): When your body lacks oxygen you yawn.

3) [liosama] 16-7-2008(40): A PERSON BOUND UP due to work is tired and LACKS sleep, hence YAWNS.

4) [SammyB] 11-6-2008(14): I yawn when I lack interest.

5) [sprutnik] 12-12-2008(12): A bound up person lacks his freedom.

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